N.S. Seafood Alliance says trade deal with China ‘incredibly positive’

CITYnewshalifax / By Mark Hodgins

News of a trade deal with China that will see a removal of retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian seafood products is good news for the industry in Nova Scotia, according to one insider.

The federal government announced the agreement on Friday morning, saying Canadian lobster and crab will not be subject to 25 per cent Chinese tariffs from March 1, 2026 through to at least the end of the year.

“Those tariffs represented a major barrier to move large amounts of live lobster into China, and it also served as a barrier to getting crab species in there,” said Kris Vascotto, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance.

In 2024, live lobster exports to China represented 40 per cent of Nova Scotia’s export market, generating about $600 million in revenue.

There are some concerns that remain, Viscotto says, including the uncertainty around whether tariffs will be reinstated at the end of the calendar year. He also says while the deal is great news for the lobster and crab industry, tariffs remain on some notable products including coldwater shrimp, surf clam and more.

Related:

• N.S. lobster exports outside China are picking up as tariffs soften demand
• Nova Scotia invests in climate change adaptations for its seafood industry
• Nova Scotia to create enforcement unit to fight illegal seafood buying, processing

“All those things make up about $100 million coming out of this province annually to go to China, so trying to make sure we have free and open access to those products is also a priority, but thank goodness we managed to take care of lobster and crab on the front end,” Vascotto explained.

Vascotto says the deal has created a “much more positive outlook” for 2026 for the seafood industry in Nova Scotia.

With files from The Canadian Press