• Fisheries minister travelling to China ahead of lobster, crab tariff deadline

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-15 14:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Trade, Fisheries, Agriculture, Economy]

  Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson is scheduled to travel to China at the end of October 2026 to negotiate market access and a potential extension for the suspension of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian lobster and crab. The tariff, which impacts approximately 80 per cent of Canadian seafood exports to China, was originally imposed in 2025 following Canadian duties on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles, before being temporarily suspended in January under a trade arrangement. In 2024, Canada exported $1.3 billion in seafood to China, making it Canada's second-largest seafood export partner out of total national fish and seafood exports valued at $8.5 billion across 114 countries.

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• With millions of dead oysters and mounting debt, P.E.I. farmers fear they'll lose everything

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-13 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Fisheries, Agriculture, Economy]

  Prince Edward Island's oyster industry is facing a severe crisis due to the parasitic diseases MSX and dermo, which were detected in PEI waters in 2024 and 2025 and are causing up to 100 per cent mortality rates among oyster crops. In response, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) introduced a $40,000 licence buyback program to purchase up to 150 eligible wild oyster fishing licences on a first-come, first-served basis with a 10-year reapplication ban, while Farm Credit Canada (FCC) offered loan payment schedule amendments and deferrals. Meanwhile, provincial and federal governments have announced support measures including financial relief, mental health support, and the approval of disease-resistant imported seed, though industry stakeholders like the P.E.I. Aquaculture Alliance and the P.E.I. Shellfish Association argue that a lack of direct basic income support threatens independent farmers and risks corporate buyouts.

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