Some in Seafood Industry See Tariffs as a Lifeline
August 4, 2025 | 1 min to read
Some fishing sectors, particularly shrimpers, crawfish producers, and catfish farmers, view President Donald Trump's trade war as a potential opportunity to thrive amidst rising import tariffs. Despite decades of competition with cheaper foreign seafood, the catfish industry advocates for even higher tariffs on imports. Meanwhile, Gulf shrimpers, who have seen their catch value halved due to increased Asian and South American imports, consider tariffs a short-term lifeline for their struggling businesses.
Some have cheered higher prices on imports. But many fishing sectors face a more uncertain tariff future.
Shrimpers, crawfish producers and catfish farmers long struggling to compete against cheaper imported seafood believe they could emerge as winners from President Donald Trump’s trade war.
The catfish industry, shrunken after decades of trade battles with Vietnamese producers, is urging Trump to ratchet up tariffs even higher on imported fish.
Shrimpers who trawl the Gulf of Mexico see tariffs as at least a short-term lifeline. Over the past few years, shrimpers have watched their catch value sink by half, primarily due to surges in imports from Asia and South America.
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