U.S. Unveils America First Seafood Strategy to Boost Exports and Counter Foreign Subsidies

The White House released the America First Seafood Strategy in honor of National Seafood Month, outlining a whole-of-government approach to revitalize the U.S. fishing industry. In 2025, U.S. seafood exports reached $5.53 billion, a 12% increase from 2024, with continued growth into 2026. The strategy targets foreign trade barriers and distortive subsidies, highlighting that Japan imposes up to 10% tariffs and the EU CATCH scheme imposes burdensome reporting requirements on U.S. exporters. Key trading partners including Taiwan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Ecuador, and Indonesia have committed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and address harmful subsidies.