Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute prepares to protest Trump’s seafood tariffs

Will inform trade officials about impacts on Alaska seafood

Seafood byproducts are processed into cat food in this 2015 file photo in Juneau. Tariffs could have a significant impact on Alaska seafood being shipped to secondary processing plants in China. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Seafood byproducts are processed into cat food in this 2015 file photo in Juneau. Tariffs could have a significant impact on Alaska seafood being shipped to secondary processing plants in China. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute will push back against a steep seafood tariff suggested by the Trump Administration.

In a board meeting Thursday morning, ASMI executive director Alexa Tonkovich said the organization is preparing a draft letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative about the importance of Alaska seafood.

ASMI’s action comes as the USTR considers a proposal to levy a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Since that proposal was announced in early July, the USTR has announced that the tariff could be increased to 25 percent.

Among the items on the tariff list is Alaska seafood sent to China for processing.

“We believe there is value in ASMI as an apolitical industry representative (speaking up),” Tonkovich said, and the board agreed to consider the draft.

“I know that other industry groups are kind of looking for ASMI to take the lead because of their connection with (the National Fisheries Institute) and their representation of the Alaska industry,” said board member Tom Enlow, who works for the seafood company Unisea.

“We better do it, definitely,” said board chairman Jack Schultheis of Kwik’ Pak Fisheries.

ASMI is the joint marketing arm for fisheries across Alaska and is funded by a small tax on catches as well as federal grants and state assistance. This year, the Alaska Legislature approved a budget of less than $21 million for the agency.

While ASMI normally stays away from political topics, the trade war begun by President Donald Trump has the potential to have significant impacts on Alaska’s fishing industry.

After fish are caught here, more than half head to processing plants to be headed, gutted and frozen for shipment to China. There, they are turned into fish sticks, salmon patties and other products. Those products are then re-frozen for shipment and sale back to the United States.

That makes seafood vulnerable to tariffs levied by the United States and retaliatory tariffs that may be issued by China.

On Thursday, the same day ASMI’s board of directors considered whether to intervene in the tariff process, the Wall Street Journal published a story detailing how Alaska’s seafood industry is uniquely vulnerable to the crossfire of a trade war.

More than half of Alaska’s seafood is shipped overseas for secondary processing, and seafood caught in Alaska represents 60 percent of all seafood caught in the United States.

In Alaska, the fishing industry (including processing) employs more people (and pays more wages) than mining and oil and gas extraction combined.

Tonkovich said a draft comment will be submitted to board members for their approval by the end of this week or early next week, then submitted to federal trade officials by early next month.

It will be shared with other fisheries organizations, including the National Fisheries Institute, the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, Groundfish Forum and any other group that may want to offer its own comments.

“This is a little unusual, but in speaking with a lot of different industry groups, and as we start to understand the impact of these tariffs, it’s important that ASMI’s voice be heard,” Tonkovich said by phone after the meeting.

She said she doesn’t see the comment as pushback but an attempt to inform the USTR about how its actions have the potential to affect Americans.

“If you’re putting a tariff on seafood, you’re not just hurting China,” she said.


• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.


More in News

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File
The Aurora Borealis glows over the Mendenhall Glacier in 2014.
Aurora Forecast

Forecasts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute for the week of March. 19

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is seeking information about this man in relation to a Wednesday bank robbery in Anchorage, the agency announced Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding the bank robbery can contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously.  (FBI)
FBI seeks info in Anchorage bank robbery

The robbery took place at 1:24 p.m. on Wednesday.

Kevin Maier
Sustainable Alaska: Climate stories, climate futures

The UAS Sustainability Committee is hosting a series of public events in April…

Reps. Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, and Andi Story, D-Juneau, offering competing amendments to a bill increasing the per-student funding formula for public schools by $1,250 during a House Education Committee meeting Wednesday morning. McKay’s proposal to lower the increase to $150 was defeated. Story’s proposal to implement an increase during the next two years was approved, after her proposed amounts totalling about $1,500 were reduced to $800.
Battle lines for education funding boost get clearer

$800 increase over two years OKd by House committee, Senate proposing $1,348 two-year increase

A call for a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature to cast a vote that would reject recently-approved salary increases for legislators and top executive branch officials is made by State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a press conference Tuesday. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, rejected the joint session in a letter to Tilton on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
House efforts to nix legislative pay raises hit Senate roadblock

Call for a joint session rejected by upper chamber, bills to overturn pay hikes may lack support

A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the most aggressive of four alternatives for expanding the mine in an environmental impact assessment published Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The tailings stack is modestly to drastically smaller in the other alternatives. The public comment period for the study is from March 24 to May 8. (U.S. Forest Service)
New study digs into alternatives for Greens Creek Mine expansion

Public comment starts Friday on four options that could extend mine’s life up to 40 years

This image shows the Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament's logo. The club is looking for submissions of logos for the historic tournament's 75th anniversary. The winning artist will receive a $250 prize. (Screenshot)
Take your shot at a Gold Medal logo

Upcoming milestone prompts call for art.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, March 23, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Juneau School Board recently announced the three finalists for the district’s superintendent position: Frank Hauser, Carlee Simon and Thom Peck. The district is hosting a public forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at Thunder Mountain High School for students, parents and staff to meet the three candidates. Additionally, the trio will be interviewed by the school board on Tuesday, March 28. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
School district announces finalists for superintendent post

Public forum and interviews scheduled for next week.

Most Read