Asia

US Moves to Protect Lobster Industry by Threatening Tariffs on China

Live lobsters at the Harbor and Seafood Festival in Santa Barbara, California. / UIG / GETTY / KYODO

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By Kyodo News 25 June 2020

WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration may impose punitive tariffs on China’s seafood exports if it finds the country is not honoring purchase commitments promised under a partial trade deal.

The two economic giants signed in January a so-called Phase 1 agreement, which brought a truce to their tit-for-tat tariff war. But Trump said he wants to protect lobster fishermen—a “crown jewel” of America’s seafood industry—as they have been adversely affected by a trade deal between Canada and the European Union.