Tariffs on wild Alaska salmon liftedBy MARY KAUFFMAN
October 05, 2018
Alaska exports more than one million metric tons of seafood each year, adding more than three billion dollars of foreign money into the U.S. economy. Some of that exported seafood, including salmon, is initially processed domestically, then sent to China for secondary processing to maintain competitive pricing, before re-importation to the U.S. Subjecting wild Alaska salmon to foreign tariffs as it returns to the United States would create serious negative financial consequences for the seafood industry, Alaska’s largest private-sector employer. The Alaska seafood industry directly employs 57,000 people. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Governor Bill Walker both welcomed the recent decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to remove proposed tariffs on Alaska salmon from a list of approximately $200 billion worth of additional tariffs on Chinese imports. The change comes following months of engagement by Senator Sullivan and his staff to protect hardworking Alaskan fisherman and to educate the administration on the unintended impacts of this proposal. Sullivan is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. “I commend Ambassador Lighthizer and the Trump administration for listening to our concerns, for taking thoughtful guidance and input, and for making this important change for Alaska’s seafood industry and the more than 60,000 jobs it contributes to our economy,” said Senator Sullivan. “While I am supportive of the administration’s broader efforts to address China’s unfair and non-reciprocal trading practices, targeting an American product, harvested by Alaskan fishermen on American flagged vessels runs completely counter to the administration’s strategy regarding China. “The Alaska seafood industry is the lifeblood of our coastal communities, which is why my team and I engaged at every level to ensure these changes were made,” Sullivan said. “It’s a good first step, accounting for approximately $250 million worth of salmon imports caught primarily by Alaska fishermen. Without it, policies meant to counter China’s unfair trading practices would have actually harmed Alaskan workers and industries due to the fact that a portion of Alaskan seafood harvests go to China for limited reprocessing before being sold back to American companies and consumers, or elsewhere throughout the world.” The USTR announcement came after advocacy from Governor Walker, industry partners, and Alaska’s Congressional delegation to protect access to some of the most important markets for Alaska’s fishermen. “We are very happy to see our efforts produce a win for Alaska, our economy, and our fishermen,” Governor Walker said. “With tariffs lifted on Alaska pollock, cod, and now salmon, we will continue to advocate for other important commercial species, particularly flatfish, to be removed from the tariff list. We are proud that Alaska’s exports, from seafood to oil, natural gas, and other natural resources, are part of the solution for our trade deficit with China. We want to keep growing that business, not limit it.” Alaska exports more than one million metric tons of seafood each year, adding more than three billion dollars of foreign money into the U.S. economy. Some of that exported seafood, including salmon, is initially processed domestically, then sent to China for secondary processing to maintain competitive pricing, before re-importation to the U.S. Subjecting wild Alaska salmon to foreign tariffs as it returns to the United States would create serious negative financial consequences for the seafood industry, Alaska’s largest private-sector employer. Since before the USTR announced its list of proposed tariffs on China, Senator Sullivan has worked to ensure the Alaska seafood industry is protected. This included numerous phone calls and meetings with Ambassador Lighthizer and USTR staff, regular discussions with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and President Trump, as well as public testimony before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Senator Sullivan’s engagement on the issue continues. On September 28, 2018, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published a modification in the Public Register to a list of additional tariffs on goods from China announced on September 17, 2018. This modification deleted the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), among others:
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