'Cruel' tariff threats bring endless uncertainty to N.B. fisheries

Leaders in New Brunswick's fishing industry are not mincing words when it comes to the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the constant back and forth of tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Oh, it's painful. It's painful," said Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, in an interview with CBC Radio's Shift, just minutes after Trump delayed tariffs on Canada for a second time.

"It's almost worse with the tariffs being on the back and forth and the up and down. It's very difficult for businesses to deal with this," Irvine said.

The latest date for tariffs to take effect, now set for April 2, coincides with the opening of lobster season in some sectors of the Atlantic region, but that's about all Irvine could say for certain about the potential impact.

"Honestly, I don't have a clue. Every single processor, shipper and exporter will have to talk to their customers."

He said the constantly changing news is destabilizing.

"It's very painful. And think about the harvesters who have to buy bait and plan for their fishing season — without knowing what the biggest market is going to pay for their products."

Despite recently embarking on a trade mission to Europe to explore diversifying Canadian markets for lobster, the U.S. remains a major partner.

Out of about $3 billion worth of Canadian lobster exported last year, Irvine said 55 per cent is frozen, out of which 75 per cent goes to the United States, which puts the province at more risk.

"It's sort of pandemic-level worry and uncertainty. And it's cruel. It's cruel, and it's not okay," Irvine said.

The rest of the exported Canadian lobster is live, with 40 per cent of that going to the U.S., 40 per cent to China, and the rest elsewhere, he said.

"People understand that we're dealing in an international protein market and things happen. But this from our best customer, our best ally and neighbour, is really cruel and unusual."

Lobster is far from the only fishery affected.

Speaking at an event announcing federal funding for shrimp processors on the Acadian Peninsula to diversify into the redfish industry, Bathurst-Acadie MP Serge Cormier acknowledged that tariffs were likely on everyone's mind.