Norwegian-owned salmon farms face US tariff squeeze.
Canada has retaliated against the United States, imposing 25% tariffs on US goods worth C$30 billion ($20.7bn) after President Donald Trump’s latest trade measures came into effect on Monday.
The US tariffs, which include 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican goods and 20% on Chinese imports, impact over $918 billion in trade and risk disrupting key export sectors. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that an additional C$125 billion ($86.2bn) in US goods would be hit with tariffs if Washington does not reverse course within 21 days.
“Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship,” Trudeau said, adding that they violate the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Blow to Canadian salmon exports
Among the products now facing a 25% tariff for the US market is Canadian farmed salmon, a sector dominated by Norwegian companies Mowi and Grieg Seafood, along with Japan-owned Cermaq. The US is Canada’s largest salmon export market, and the new tariff raises concerns over competitiveness, pricing, and supply chain stability.
While the tariffs do not specifically target seafood, the broad scope of the trade dispute means higher costs for Canadian producers, who already face regulatory challenges and competition from Chile and domestic US producers.
The additional costs could put pressure on Norwegian-owned operations in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, as companies assess how the tariff impact will affect pricing and trade flows.
Mexico has yet to announce its response, but President Claudia Sheinbaum is expected to outline a strategy later today.
Trump has signaled he may expand tariffs further, with new “reciprocal” duties potentially coming into effect as soon as next month. The uncertainty leaves Norwegian-owned salmon producers in Canada facing a turbulent US trade environment.
