TRADE WAR ADDS CANADIAN FLAVOUR INTO CHINESE CUISINE

The surging lobster business in Canada built on the trade war between the US and China shows the capability of Nova Scotia in addressing the supply chain issues of stakeholders, at a time when China demanded more lobster than the province exported earlier. By exporting around 22 tonnes from January-October 2019, one of the three maritime provinces of Canada is confident to face the aftermath if trade war ends, by foraying into new markets.

- Shalini Nair

Lobsters from Nova Scotia have embarked on several flights to China, where they have been celebrating their fame on Chinese platter since July 2018. China’s 25 percent tariff on American lobster has been an added boon for Canadian producers, kicking out Maine’s lobsters from Chinese cuisine. Things even got worse for American lobstermen when an additional 10 percent was imposed on September 1, 2019. Chinese customers have gravitated towards Canadian lobster in response to the on-going trade war with the United States. However, the 86-page text of the phase-I deal between both the super powers announced by the White House in December and to be formally inked in January 2020, even failed to cheer up the lobster industry. The deal focused on technology agreements and importing billions of dollars worth the United States manufactured goods.

Canadian food items have become glamourous in China, given the history of Canada which has been living in the shadow of American soft power exports. As per the data from The Lobster Council of Canada, Canada exported 22,159,700 kilogrammes (22159.7 tonnes) of live lobster to China from January-October 2019, which accounted to Canadian dollar (CAD) 384,443,865. Since the outbreak of trade war, Canada sent 14,142,409 kilogrammes (14142.409 tonnes) to China - lobster worth CAD 257,324,773. The five-month period in 2018, showed a record surge compared to 2017 figures, which stood at 8,592,810 kilogrammes (8592.81 tonnes).