At the recent meeting between NOAA head Jane Lubchenco and Maria Daminaki, the European commissioner for fisheries, the US raised the issue of pollock tariffs, that would fall on both Alaska pollock blocks and surimi.
Current regulations call for a tariff of 13.7% on pollock blocks, and 14.2% on surimi. For many years those tariffs have been suspended if the block or surimi products are used for subsequent manufacturing of additional value added product.
It is unclear where the push is coming from to do away with the exemption, putting the tariffs into force. It could be a bureaucratic issue within the EU Commission, or as some have suggested harvester groups could be behind the change. But no European harvesters land fish that compete directly with Alaska pollock.
Such an outcome would have a severe impact on major seafood manufacturers in Europe, at a time when they are already struggling with higher import prices and declining demand. French demand for pollock products is expected to be flat. In the UK, Tesco reported today a 1.4% drop in sales, and a 4% drop on the continent, and is struggling to lower pricing.
Since the beginning of the year, the euro has declined around 4% against the dollar, and further declines are likely.
In this environment, manufacturers are in no condition to absorb a 13% to 14% tariff.
According to a US pollock industry source, "we are aware that as part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy review that drafts are being floated that could propose higher effective tariff rates. No specific policy proposal has been released by the EU though, so we dont know how serious this issue might be."
"Our primary interest is in Alaska pollock, Pacific whiting or surimi-based products. We are not aware of anyone who might benefit increasing effective tariff rates on those products. First and foremost, the products we export to Europe dont compete with any products made from fish harvested by EU fleets. Second, higher tariff rates would hurt European value-added processors and their workers as pollock products undergo a substantial amount of further processing within Europe. Finally, increased tariff rates would raise costs for European consumers."
The US industry and government is gearing up to fight this economically dangerous move. However, under current WTO agreements, the EU has the right to adjust pollock tariffs, so there is not a legal issue. Instead, the argument will be an economic one: why hurt seafood manufacturing at a time when they need to create as many jobs as possible.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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