Fishing industry gets nearly $6M to explore new markets following U.S. tariff threat
Fishery roundtable will meet Wednesday morning
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is redirecting nearly $6 million to help the province's fishing industry explore diversified markets as threats of tariffs from the United States loom.
"Although we've been given a temporary reprieve, we do not know where this is going to go. So we are exploiting that time period, that interim period of these 30 days, to really, really prepare and ratchet up our response," Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne told CBC News on Tuesday.
"Market diversification is core to that response."
The money, totalling $5.75 million over the next two years, was originally allocated for companies under the Association of Seafood Producers to study quality issues.
Byrne said it was unspent and the tariff threats warrant the redirection of funds.
The money will now be used to investigate market opportunities in Europe and Asia. Applications for the funding have to be made through the Department of Fisheries.
The United States is a dominant buyer of Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab. About 90 per cent of snow crab harvested in the province last year went south of the border.
"It just is sensible to prepare for the long-term and diversify out of the United States," Bryne said.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would hold off on placing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods for 30 days.
On Monday the ASP and Fish, Food and Allied Workers union also issued a unified request, calling on the province to create a fishery specific roundtable.
That request has been met, Byrne said. The roundtable will hold its first meeting Wednesday morning.
Byrne called the roundtable necessary for moving forward through the threat of tariffs.
The roundtable will feature dozens of voices from across the province to discuss tariffs, new markets and possible support that could be available if this season's fishery is impacted as a result of tariffs.
But it won't be a place for price negotiations between the ASP and the FFAW, Byrne said.
"This roundtable will not be a surrogate … for collective bargaining. It is very important that this roundtable deal exclusively with the tariffs, with market access issues and market diversification," Byrne said.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, ASP executive director Jeff Loder and FFAW president Dwan Street said the clock is ticking ahead of the start of the snow crab season. The season generally starts in April, but both parties have pushed for this season to start on March 15.
WATCH | New fisheries roundtable will also discuss income support for workers:
Byrne has written the federal government to support that, he said, and says he's confident a unified effort by Loder and Street can lead to a successful season.
"I feel exceptionally confident, more confident than I've ever felt before," Byrne said.
"Even with a price increase, there is a significant and real strong potential that Americans will still buy Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab."
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With files from Terry Roberts
