Champagne defends reversal on seafood tariffs against U.S.

OTTAWA - Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is defending his government's swift reversal on imposing retaliatory tariffs on seafood and fish imports from the United States. The Liberal government had initially announced sweeping tariffs on Tuesday, which would have significantly impacted the U.S. seafood sector. The Finance Department's announcement on Wednesday, however, revealed that the tariffs would be removed "to protect against broader economic harms."

The decision was made in response to concerns from Canadians about the countermeasures and was deemed "the right thing to do in the interest of Canada." Canada's seafood sector is heavily reliant on trade with the United States, with both nations being each other's primary destination for lobster exports. The Maine Lobstermen Association had expressed serious concerns, warning that the tariffs would be "devastating" for their industry and the coastal communities that depend on it.