TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Fisheries officials and industry representatives spoke about response measures and worries on Monday after the US implemented new tariffs on their products.
Aquaculture products are included on US President Donald Trump’s list of 32% tariffs on most Taiwanese goods. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said on Friday that bass and tilapia exports were likely to be the hardest hit by the measures.
Taiwan’s Aquaculture Development Association CEO Hou Yen-lung (侯彥隆) told CNA on Monday that some of Taiwan’s frozen sea bass exports can be redirected to Australia. Hou said one of Taiwan’s biggest competitors in the sea bass export market is China, which faces a 54% tariff from the US.
According to the agriculture ministry, Taiwan exported 4,618 tons of frozen sea bass worth NT$215.8 million (US$6.52 million) in 2024. Over 3,050 tons of this went to Australia, and 1,197 tons to the US.
The ministry’s statistics also show Taiwan exported 16,859 tons of frozen tilapia in 2024, 13,257 tons of which went to the US and 1,253 tons to Australia. Hou said that reduced US demand for tilapia in the long run poses a bigger threat to Taiwan’s fisheries.
Hou said Taiwan has many competitors in the tilapia export market, including Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brazil. He said Brazil’s tariff is lower than all these other countries, though its tilapia exports to the US are not large, and the effects of the tariffs require further observation.
Meanwhile, swordfish fishers in Taitung expressed worry that the new US tariffs would affect their sales. A fisher surnamed Hsu (許) told CNA fish prices have been low recently and worried that tariffs would make them worse.
Agriculture ministry statistics show Taiwan exported 2,675 tons of swordfish worth NT$355.4 million last year. Over 1,300 tons of these exports went to the US.
Taitung Xin Gang District Fisherman’s Association General Manager Chen Chun-ming (陳俊銘) said he contacted the Fisheries Agency to discuss response measures. He asked fishers not to panic and said if prices fall, other markets will be found.
The ministry’s Fisheries Agency said it was exploring alternative markets for swordfish on Monday. Fisheries Agency Deputy Director Chen Chien-yu (陳建佑) said subsidies and loans will be available to fishers, and the agency has developed plans to sell swordfish to domestic and foreign markets other than the US.
