The representatives of the seafood industry from more than 50 countries are in Boston for what are generally three exciting days of meetings, exhibitions and networks in the Annual Seofood Expo exhibition. This year, however, bets have never been higher for the Atlantic Canadians.
The fears of possible tariffs that shake the industry of the United States and China are eclipsing everything that happens on the exhibition floor.
Bruce Wilson, a New Brunswick lobster fisherman, told CBC News that he is afraid of what effect the tariffs could have in his business and his community, and hopes that he can share that message with other people at the Expo.
“Who will absorb that rate? If it’s 25 [per cent]10 percent, 15, is it just the fisherman? The consumer? Or everyone else? “Wilson said Sunday.
“Even if it is only five percent … even the corner store needs to keep up.”
The largest meeting of its kind on the continent, Seafood Expo North America gives the world the opportunity to explore new markets, somewhat higher for Canada and its provinces and territories.
The exhibition is developing during a moment of potential crisis for the landscape of Canadian shellfish, since the economic tariffs that would apply to the seafood are large, along with the uncertainty about what will happen if the new positions happen.
Canada exports 67 percent of its seafood product to the United States, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump, said the tariffs will resume on April 2 after postponing them earlier this month. Meanwhile, China says that its 25 percent rate will enter into force on Thursday. Both will apply to seafood.
Neil Targett, a member of the sales and logistics team of the Barry Brook Business Group, says that the idea of 25 percent of tariffs from the United States and China in Canadian seafood is a hot topic on the floor of Seafood Expo North America in Boston. He talked about what he is listening to Leila Beaudoin from CBC.
“25 percent are really affecting the base gain,” Wilson said. “It could be very dangerous for the sustenance of fishermen.”
Neil Targett, part of the group of Barry companies based in Corner Brook, NL, said that although it is still early in the event, the conversations he has had on the exhibition floor so far have included talk about rates.
“No one knows what is really going to happen,” he said. “Will it change? You can change many times between now and then. Everyone is really nervous.”
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Canadian officials opened the show highlighting decades of collaboration between Canada and the United States, and emphasizing the crowd that the relationship will be even more necessary in the future.
The experts and harvesters of the industry agree that both sides of the border will pay the price in case the United States imposes tariffs on seafood. Leila Beaudoin de CBC is in Boston and has been talking to East Coast Harvesters and Processors about the expensive domino effect.
“The relationships we have here are extremely important, and we hope that you are all of Canada’s ambassadors,” Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston and a former Federal Fishing Minister and a former Federal Fishing Minister, told a multitude.
“It is important that we all join, and I think this is a great place for us to show our strength.”
Talking to CBC News, Jordan said that part of his message to people in the program also focuses on the effect that rates could have both in Canada and the United States, he says that the New Englanders generally understand that.
“New England gets much of its energy from Canada. They get their heating at home, get their malt and barley for craft beer. You know, there is a lot of trade between the two countries, and it will affect consumers,” he said.
The Prime Minister of New Scotland, Tim Houston, said that part of the program will involve working on that concern.
“We have an incredible product of the Atlantic of Canada, from New Scotland. That product is desired worldwide,” he said.
“Tariffs can have an impact on prices, but we will overcome it. And I am here to support them in any way I can.”
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