Arimar França and Jairo Gund (Abipesca), Lisa Weddig (National Fisheries Institute) and Fernando Aguiar (C.Vale)

Brazilian Seafood Industry Demands End to U.S. Tariffs on Tilapia

Abipesca advocates for trade partnership, arguing that a 50% tariff harms American consumers and jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Brazilian seafood industry is ramping up its efforts to convince U.S. authorities to remove a 50% tariff on tilapia meat. Directors from the Brazilian Seafood Industry Association (Abipesca) met with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Thursday, September 4, 2025, to argue for the tariff exemption and for the exclusion of Brazilian fish from the broader Section 301 investigation. This specific tariff was implemented by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in 2024 as part of a review of various trade practices.

Jairo Gund, Abipesca's executive director, argued that the investigation is unrelated to the Brazilian fishing sector and highlighted the benefits of the trade partnership. In 2024, Brazil exported more than 30,000 tons of fish to the U.S. market, a 30% increase from the previous year. Tilapia accounted for 40% of that growth, solidifying Brazil's position as the second-largest supplier of fresh tilapia fillets to the United States, behind Honduras.

C.Vale Commercial Manager Fernando Aguiar and Executive Director Jairo Gund -->

Gund emphasized that this partnership supports jobs in both countries, ensures competitive prices, and strengthens food security and supply chain reliability in the U.S.. Fernando Aguiar, a director at Abipesca, clarified that Brazil's aquaculture is not linked to issues of deforestation or labor violations, noting that the country's environmental legislation is among the strictest in the world. The association has a deadline of September 10 to present additional information to the commission.

To strengthen its position and facilitate direct dialogue with U.S. officials, Abipesca has partnered with the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), establishing a new office in the United States. This strategic move aims to reinforce the defense of Brazilian seafood's competitiveness in the international market, ensuring the industry can continue to grow responsibly while serving its key partners.

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