Canada’s new deal with China is great news for the lobster industry.
That’s according to the Executive Director of the Lobster Council of Canada, Geoff Irvine.
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the Chinese government will remove their 25 percent tariff on lobster by March 1.
Irvine says 40 percent of Canada’s live lobster goes to China.
“It should mean that our shippers will have a little more confidence. They should be able to improve the prices that they were paying back in the spring and summer when there was a lot of uncertainty. I’m hopeful that it will improve prices overall for harvesters and exporters,” said Irvine.
He says lobster buyers were pushing hard to have that tariff removed, and they’re happy to be in the first part of the strategic partnership.
Irvine adds he was in touch with the Canadian delegation in China.
He says they’re hopeful it’s part of a long-term effort to remove tariffs permanently.
“Other seafood species still have tariffs attached, and there are still some products like Canadian pork. I have heard that work will continue, and I’m very encouraged by that.”
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