Business · Trade · 1 hr ago
P.E.I. seafood exporters seek Chinese buyers amid U.S. trade tensions
Prince Edward Island seafood exporters are seeking more buyers in China as trade tensions with the United States drive efforts to diversify.
A provincial trade mission took exporters to a seafood expo in Qingdao and meetings in Beijing and Shanghai, where fish seller Bruce Palmer said dozens of potential buyers visited his booth.
Canada extended relief from extra Chinese tariffs on lobster and crab through 2028, after the relief had been due to expire in December.
The extension eased Palmer’s main concern, but some products, including shrimp, prawns, clams and sea cucumbers, still face additional duties.
The United States remains Canada’s biggest seafood customer, buying $6.1 billion worth in 2025, or 72 per cent of exports by value.
That reliance makes finding other customers important, even as China’s market offers new opportunities.
Palmer is seeking approval to sell live lobster in China and also hopes to sell live eels and bluefin tuna, which face regular import duties.
P.E.I. seafood exporters are seeking Chinese buyers as trade tensions with the United States drive efforts to diversify their markets.
A provincial trade mission took exporters to the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in Qingdao and to meetings in Beijing and Shanghai.
JMK Fish Mart owner Bruce Palmer said 40 or 50 potential buyers visited the shared P.E.I. booth.
Canada extended for two years a deal keeping additional 25 per cent Chinese tariffs off Canadian lobster and crab, through the end of 2028.
The United States remains Canada’s largest seafood customer, accounting for 72 per cent of exports by value in 2025.
- Who
- P.E.I. seafood exporters, including Bruce Palmer, owner of JMK Fish Mart.
- What
- They are seeking Chinese buyers and working to diversify sales amid U.S. trade tensions.
- When
- The article was published Nov. 13, 2026; the trade mission and tariff extension were described as recent.
- Where
- Qingdao, Beijing and Shanghai, China; Palmer’s fish mart is in Summerside, P.E.I.
- Why
- U.S. trade tensions are driving exporters to seek other markets.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
P.E.I. exporters attended the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in Qingdao, followed by meetings in Beijing and Shanghai.
Ottawa announced a two-year extension of the deal keeping additional 25 per cent Chinese tariffs off Canadian lobster and crab through the end of 2028.
- Potential buyers
- 40 or 50 visited the P.E.I. booth
- Tariff relief
- Additional 25 per cent Chinese tariffs on Canadian lobster and crab kept off through the end of 2028
- Canada seafood exports to China
- Annual average of about $1.3 billion from 2022 to 2025, adjusted for inflation
- U.S. seafood purchases
- $6.1 billion in 2025, or 72 per cent of Canadian seafood exports by value
- Products still facing additional duties
- Shrimp, prawns, clams and sea cucumbers
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What people are saying
Everybody was interested. They’re all looking for fresh product.
It’s fantastic
I think we have a better relationship with China now than the U.S.
big trouble