Trump–Store meeting touches on tariffs, trade ties amid seafood sector concerns.
US President Donald Trump met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Thursday to discuss trade, security cooperation, NATO, and the war in Ukraine.
The meeting comes shortly after the United States imposed a 15% tariff on Norwegian imports earlier this month, including seafood products. The rate was later adjusted to 10% for a provisional 90-day period following initial backlash from trading partners and domestic importers.
Although no formal statement was issued on seafood specifically, Norwegian officials have signalled trade—including fisheries and aquaculture—as a key concern.
“The United States is an important trading partner for Norway,” Støre said ahead of a working lunch with Trump. “I look forward to talking about areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future.”
Trump, who has called for faster resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, noted that he had “no problem” reaching a deal with Norway on broader trade matters, though no commitments were made public.
The Norwegian seafood industry exported NOK 1.9 billion ($184 million) worth of salmon to the US in 2024. The introduction of tariffs has led to increased concern among exporters, particularly as Norway continues to expand sea-based and land-based production intended for North American markets.
Seafood industry stakeholders on both sides are watching closely for signs of whether tariffs will be extended, renegotiated, or ultimately made permanent. Analysts say any continued trade friction could benefit competitors from Chile, Canada, or Scotland if Norwegian producers face prolonged barriers to the US market.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the discussions touched on trade relations but did not comment on whether seafood tariffs were raised directly.