Andreassen warns salmon tariffs would raise food costs without boosting U.S. supply.
Johan Andreassen, co-founder of Atlantic Sapphire, has warned that proposed tariffs on imported salmon would risk raising consumer prices without meaningfully increasing domestic production.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Andreassen addressed growing speculation over a potential trade dispute and U.S. tariff measures, saying that applying import duties to salmon would function as a “consumption tax” rather than a tool for reshoring.
Referencing comments made by Howard Lutnick on the All-In podcast, Andreassen wrote: “We can’t grow mangoes in America… If you put a tariff on a mango, that’s just a consumption tax. The idea is to choose things that are going to reshore. Same thing with salmon.”
He acknowledged that while U.S. salmon farming is expanding, domestic production remains well below national consumption levels. “Putting tariffs on salmon imports wouldn’t really help anyone. It would just make food more expensive,” he said.
Andreassen, who helped pioneer land-based salmon farming in the United States, remains a prominent voice in the aquaculture sector and has frequently commented on trade, policy, and food security issues.