US fishermen are about to get hurt in Washington-Beijing trade war
US seafood industry is about to fall between the political interests that started the trade war between Washington and Beijing, reports Press Herald.
A possible tariff put on Chinese seafood would most probably be responded with a retaliation measure that could hurt Alaskan fishermen and Maine lobstermen, as the US industry leaders warn.
"Not only because China is a crucial current and future market for U.S. fish, but also because there is no ready substitute for the China market", explained John Connelly, president of the National Fisheries Institute.
Lobster exports to China have reached a value of more than $90 million, representing a figure 125 time bigger than a decade ago thanks to the 300 million middle-class Chinese consumers, as mentions Annie Tselikis, executive director of the Maine Lobster Dealers Association.
"We are beginning to run out of options as to where we may market and promote our products around the world. We cannot suffer a blow to the Chinese lobster market, too", declared Tselikis. She said that, only in Mane, the industry has created about 14,000 jobs and a large amount of money was channelled to develop the Asian markets, especially China.
Competitors from Russia, Canada, Iceland, Thailand, Norway, Vietnam and Chile would benefit from a trade war that could impact the US seafood exports to China, are saying other leaders in this line of business. The US lobster sector is making $500 million a year in direct boat sales and another $1 billion from the larger supply chain.
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