MNI INTERVIEW: Canada Seeking Fish Exports Beyond China Deal

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson told MNI Monday a recent China trade deal is just one step in seeking new markets to rebalance trade amid tensions with the United States, as President Donald Trump threatens 100% tariffs if Prime Minister Mark Carney moves toward broad free trade with the world's second-largest economy.

“The arrangement for lobster and crab is just that, it is an arrangement, and I am really grateful for it, and we continue to do the work of finding new markets,” she said in a brief interview after a parliamentary hearing in Ottawa. 

Carney visited China in January and struck a deal opening up about 2% of Canada's market to electric vehicles and in return saw a temporary easing of tariffs on seafood and canola. U.S. President Trump initially lauded the deal but later said he would impose 100% tariffs on Canada if it worked out a China free trade deal, something Carney said isn't happening.

“China is the second largest export for us in Canada. So of course it’s important, all markets are important. We have to diversify,” Thompson said. Earlier she told lawmakers she is heading to trade shows in Boston and Barcelona to win new business.

Asked about how to make up lost U.S. sales she said: “We diversify. One hundred export markets last year.”

Before a souring of relations with China a few years ago when Canada enforced a U.S. arrest warrant on a Huawei executive, east coast fishermen filled cargo jets with lobster and other seafood bound for Asian markets.