Monday, December 19, 2022

Alaska Defense spending bill includes funding for an Alaska-based icebreaker KMXT by Kirsten Dobroth - December 15, 2022 The U.S. Coast Guard is expanding its fleet of icebreakers and could be homeporting one of the vessels in Alaska. Icebreakers are built with thicker hulls and used to navigate the world’s icy, northernmost waters. https://kmxt.org/2022/12/defense-spending-bill-includes-funding-for-an-alaska-based-icebreaker/ Secretary of Commerce approves disaster declarations in AK and WA Determination to address economic impacts from 2019 to 2023 NOAA Fisheries - December 16, 2022 U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today her determination that fishery disasters occurred in multiple Alaska and Washington fisheries over the last several years, including the Alaska Bristol Bay Red King Crab and Bering Sea Snow Crab fisheries. The Secretary, working with NOAA Fisheries, evaluates fishery disaster requests based on data submitted by a state and/or tribe. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/secretary-of-commerce-approves-disaster-declarations-in-ak-and-wa Senate Passes Sullivan-Murkowski Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act Sullivan.senate.gov - December 16, 2022 WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate this week voted unanimously to pass the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska) that would form a panel of Alaska’s salmon stakeholders and research experts to study Pacific salmon trends and create a coordinated research strategy for Pacific salmon in Alaska to support robust salmon runs. The Research Task Force would be directed to conduct a comprehensive review of Pacific salmon science relevant to understanding salmon returns in Alaska, and publish a report, within one year of convening, to provide recommendations identifying knowledge and research gaps and further research priorities for salmon in Alaska. https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-sullivan-murkowski-alaska-salmon-research-task-force-act International USTR Extends China Tariff Exclusions for Seafood Products Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - December 19, 2022 A handful of seafood products will continue to be excluded from the tariffs linked to the China Section 301 Investigation. On December 16, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a nine-month extension for 352 product exclusions that were reinstated in March 2022. The exclusions were set to expire at the end of the year. The extension will impact the following seafood items: - Alaskan sole (yellowfin, rock or flathead, frozen in blocks, in cases with net weight of more than 4.5 kg - King crab meat, frozen in blocks each weighing at least 1 kg but not more than 1.2 kg , in airtight containers - Snow crab meat (C. opilio), frozen in blocks, in airtight containers each with net weight of not more than 1.2 kg - Dungeness crab meat, frozen in blocks, in airtight containers with net weight of not more than 1.2 kg - Crab meat (other than King crab, Snow crab, Dungeness or swimming crabs), frozen in blocks, in airtight containers with net weight of not more than 1.5 kg The complete product list can be found here. The initial exclusions were announced back in March, as SeafoodNews covered. Ambassador Katherine Tai described its tariff exclusion process as a “key part” of the Biden-Harris Administration as it looks to realign trade between the U.S. and China. National Fisheries Institute (NFI)'s Vice President of Government Affairs Robert DeHaan said he was pleased with the reinstatement in March 2022 and was happy to help lead the effort to promote “free and fair trade through the reduction of tariffs” for NFI’s members. “The U.S. Trade Representative’s decision to reinstate previously expired exclusions on fisheries products will not only benefit American workers throughout the seafood value chain but also will help make the healthiest animal protein on the planet more available and affordable,” DeHaan said in a statement. “This is ultimately a tax cut for American families, at a time of significant supply chain and inflationary challenges.” DeHaan said NFI will continue to work for responsible trade policies that benefit American seafood workers and consumers who are looking for nutritious seafood. The USTR said the extension “will help align further consideration of these exclusions with the ongoing comprehensive four-year review.” The USTR shared the following in regard to the extension: Interested persons may submit comments on the tariff headings containing these exclusions through the USTR portal in the four-year review, which closes January 17, 2023. Additional information is set out in the following Federal Register Notice. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1241931/USTR-Extends-China-Tariff-Exclusions-for-Seafood-Products Pacific Seafood Processors Association 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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