The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has called on US trade officials to safeguard the tariff-free seafood trade framework established under the US–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), warning that any reopening of the deal could destabilise a supply chain that has become essential to American seafood businesses.
Testifying before the Office of the US Trade Representative on 5 December 2025, NFI Director of Public Policy Morgan Bell said the tri-national agreement has strengthened North American seafood markets and delivered substantial gains for US exporters since entering into force in 2020.
According to NFI, US seafood exports to Mexico have grown 65% under USMCA, while exports to Canada are up 17%. Combined seafood trade between the US and Canada alone now exceeds US$4.6 billion annually.
“Any re-evaluation of USMCA should reflect the simple fact that under this agreement, tri-national seafood trade has thrived,” Bell said. “A predictable, tariff-free framework gives our members confidence to innovate, plan, and compete.”
Bell highlighted the deep integration of the US and Canadian seafood sectors, particularly in lobster, where complementary seasons, shared processing capacity, and coordinated resource management underpin a “cross-border system that cannot be replicated elsewhere.” Trade in snow crab, scallops, salmon and whitefish also depends heavily on seamless movement between the two markets.
NFI warned that new tariffs or market-access changes would raise costs for US processors, harvesters and consumers, while inviting retaliation from Canada or Mexico. “Our industry cannot afford another disruption,” Bell said, referencing losses experienced during previous trade conflicts with China.
The organisation also stressed that maintaining USMCA’s trilateral structure is essential for regulatory alignment, predictable conditions for importers, and effective dispute resolution.
Bell linked the institute’s position to the Biden administration’s 2025 seafood executive order, which calls for strengthening domestic seafood competitiveness. Extending and reinforcing USMCA, she argued, is “a simple and direct step toward that goal.”
The testimony comes as the USTR conducts a mandated review of the agreement’s operation ahead of potential renegotiations.
