Brazilian Seafood Exports to US in Jeopardy After New 50% Tariff

United States President Donald Trump placed 50% tariffs on Brazil starting on August 1 as Trump criticized the country’s handling of former President Jair Bolsonaro in a letter.

Brazil’s letter is the most recent that Trump sent to 22 US trading partners so far this week, as Expana covered. While the rest of the letters were largely identical, the letter to Brazilian leadership was unique as Trump cited a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, per Expana’s Ryan Gallagher.

From a seafood perspective, Brazil ranks in the top 20...

ANALYSIS: Seasonal Growth in Chilean Salmon Supply Meets Depressed Global Salmon Market

Chilean salmon production continues to display higher monthly levels of harvest compared to 2024, but lower than in 2023, according to the Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA). The accumulated harvest up to May reached 281,338 metric tons (mt), representing a 7.4% year-to-date (YTD) increase (Figure 1). Additionally, the harvest volume has been increasing in line with the seasonal rise in harvests. In May, the harvest volume grew by 6.3% month-on-month (m-o-m). Typically, the Chilean Atlantic salmon industry reaches its...

New Lawsuit Alleges Trident is Violating Clean Water Act at Washington Facility

On July 8, 2025, Washington-based nonprofit Waste Action Project (WAP) filed a citizen lawsuit against Trident Seafood Corporation (Trident) for allegedly violating pollution discharge standards required under the Clean Water Act (CWA) at the seafood giant’s Washington production facility.

Waste Action Project is a Washington-based non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment of Washington State. WAP has at least one member who is injured by Trident’s violations.

The formal complaint targets Trident’s 8.9-acre seafood processing and packaging facility in Anacortes, Washington...

Bristol Bay Landings are Now Just 5M Sockeye Short of Forecasted 35M Catch 

It is another endurance test in Bristol Bay for fishermen and processors to keep up with the annual phenomenon of 50 million sockeye salmon returning to five rivers within about 100 square miles, or one third the size of New York City. And the majority of the run comes in over the course of just two weeks. 

Deliveries of July 9 are just coming in at press time, but as of July 8, a total of 2.6 million sockeye salmon, also called...

Trump Tariff Letters Continue to Roll Out; Philippines Faces 20% Tariff

President Trump has sent a new batch of letters to several countries, including the Philippines, notifying them of new US tariff rates set to take effect on August 1, giving them a short window to renegotiate trade terms before the deadline.

On July 8, Trump stated that a minimum of seven countries would be released, with an additional group to be released in the afternoon.

Despite multiple tariff implementation delays already, Trump was steadfast and set August 1 as a hard deadline in a social media...

Mexico Aims to Boost Tilapia Self-Sufficiency by 2030  

Mexico is aiming to achieve full self-sufficiency in tilapia production by 2030, according to an announcement from Julio Berdegué, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

Berdegué shared the goal during “The Future of Tilapia in Mexico” forum, hosted by the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca).  

Currently, Mexico’s aquaculture sector is made up of roughly 81,000 workers, with around 45,000 involved in tilapia production. Of those, 90% are small-scale operations. 

In 2024, tilapia production in Mexico exceeded 2.6 billion pesos. Looking ahead to 2025, the government plans to...

Japan’s Surimi Export Value from January to May Reaches Second-Highest Ever

According to trade statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Finance, cumulative Japanese exports of kamaboko and other surimi products (excluding fish sausages) from January through May reached 3,983 tons (a 2% year-on-year increase), marking the fifth largest volume for that period in the past decade. Meanwhile, the export value increased by 5% to 4.24 billion yen ($28.85 billion), the second-highest level for the January–May period, following the record set in 2022.

Amid uncertainty over future exports due to U.S. tariff issues, Japanese surimi products...

Newfoundland and Labrador Announces Changes to Harvester Loan Program 

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is enhancing the Harvester Enterprise Loan program to make financing more accessible to fish harvesters.  

The changes aim to streamline the application process and improve access to down payment loans and interest rebates. 

As part of the update, loan guarantees are now optional. This means that harvesters approved for a loan — even without a guarantee — can still apply for both the interest rebate and the patient down payment loan. 

The government says these enhancements are meant to ease the burden and...

Letter to Brazil: Trump Cites "Witch Hunt" While Charging 50% Tariff

US President Trump has charged 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports to the States, according to a letter to Brazilian President Lula.

This week, reciprocal tariffs were re-announced in the form of letters from the US Trump administration to trading partners who could not reach a deal within the previously granted 90-day pause. And what a fun week it's been for tariffs' "watchers on the wall."

Letters to 22 trading partners were sent with new tariff rates that will be implemented on August 1...

US Tariffs on Brazilian Imports Spark Cross-Commodity Concerns

US President Donald Trump’s recent move to raise tariffs on Brazilian imports to 50% starting August 1—up sharply from the 10% rate imposed in early April—has sparked concerns in global markets, with potential ripple effects across commodities like orange juice, beef, coffee, sugar, and seafood.

The trade measures, announced Wednesday, are raising alarms in export-dependent sectors and among US importers, with market participants saying the implications could be wide-ranging. 

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the country would respond to the newly announced tariff on Brazilian exports with reciprocal measures. Below, Expana analyzes the potential impact...

Trump Announces August 1 Tariffs — Here's the Full List

Global leaders are receiving news on their countries' US tariff rates this week, as President Donald Trump dispatched approximately 20 letters by Wednesday afternoon.

The tariff rates, which range from 20% to 50%, are set to take effect on August 1, unless new negotiations or trade deals are reached in the coming weeks. Trump signed an executive order establishing an August 1 deadline for implementing his “reciprocal” tariffs. He remained firm on social media, emphasizing that it marked the final cutoff for any new trade agreements...

Trident, Silver Bay Awarded $2.8 Million via USDA Contracts for Pollock 

Trident Seafoods and Silver Bay Seafoods were awarded contracts via the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for frozen Alaska pollock products.  

The Washington-based companies will sell the USDA 39,600 pounds of frozen Alaska pollock fillets for $2.83 million.  

Trident took home the bulk of the contract, $2.3 million. Meanwhile, the USDA will buy over $522,000 worth of Alaska pollock from Silvery Bay Seafoods.   

Last month, Trident and Channel Fish Processing were awarded contracts worth $1.97 million for...

Former USDA Economist Looks at How Trade Disputes and Geopolitics Are Reshaping Agri-Food

As global supply chains face intensifying pressure from geopolitical tensions, climate variability and shifting consumer demands, agri-food leaders are constantly rethinking their procurement strategies.

At Expana’s Agri-Food Americas event on September 23-24 in Chicago, these themes take center stage in the panel discussion “How Geopolitical Uncertainty, Tariffs, and Trade are Impacting Food & Ag”.

Conflict and policy shifts can destabilize your supply chain and disrupt sourcing. This panel will offer expert insights into international affairs so you can adapt quickly...

Marcus Coleman Steps Down as CEO of UK Trade Group Seafish

United Kingdom seafood trade association Seafish announced that Marcus Coleman will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after a decade at the helm.

The group credited Coleman with modernizing the association and “forging close connections with the diverse seafood sector across the UK to ensure that the support the organization provides is focused, efficient and valued.”

“I have had the enormous privilege to work alongside dedicated and committed colleagues who wholeheartedly believe in the UK...

Independent Study Finds Gulf Menhaden Fishery Has Minimal Impact on Red Drum Stocks 

The long-awaited results of the first independent study on bycatch involving the Gulf menhaden fishery have been released.  

Funded by the state of Louisiana, the study found that bycatch of red drum in the fishery is low, accounting for just 3.4% of all red drum removals in state waters. This is below Louisiana’s 5% threshold for non-target species by weight.  

“The study reaffirms what decades of science have consistently shown: Louisiana’s Gulf menhaden fishery is sustainable, selective, and...

Massachusetts Now Accepting Applications for Fisheries Innovation Fund

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) announced its initial solicitation for Fisheries Innovation Fund (FIF) applications, with a deadline of August 29, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

This solicitation round seeks to award approximately $750,000 overall. Preferred projects will have budgets ranging from $25,000 to $300,000, beginning as soon as January 1, 2026, and concluding by December 31, 2028.

A division under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs (EOEEA), the DMF facilitates responsible development of offshore renewable energies while promoting sustainability...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Market Navigates a Shifting Supply Landscape

The live lobster market is entering a pivotal seasonal transition. As July begins, several Canadian Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) are either closing or experiencing reduced landings, tightening northern supply. At the same time, fishing activity in Maine is increasing, with a gradual shift in production focus to US harvesters. This period typically marks a rebalancing of supply dynamics, with market participants closely watching shifts in availability, pricing and demand as the peak summer season approaches...