Norwegian seafood faces 15% US tariff, exceeding UK rate.
Norwegian seafood exporters face new headwinds after the United States announced a 15 percent tariff on all imports from Norway, including fish and fish products. The measure, introduced by President Donald Trump late Thursday night US time, targets countries with a trade surplus with the United States.
While a base tariff of 10 percent applies broadly, countries deemed to have a surplus face a higher rate. As a result, Norway will see a 15 percent tariff, compared to 10 percent for the United Kingdom—placing Norwegian exporters at a competitive disadvantage in a key premium seafood market.
In 2024, the United States accounted for 3.5 percent of Norway’s total exports, according to Statistics Norway, cited by NRK. While not Norway’s largest market, the US is an important and growing destination for Atlantic salmon and trout.
Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth said on Friday that discussions with the US are ongoing.
“We are not there yet,” Myrseth told NRK. “We have had constructive but demanding conversations up to now. The goal remains to reach an agreement with the United States.”
She added that “there are different rules of the game around getting an agreement in place than what we are used to,” and called for readiness to adapt to the new political environment.
The tariff decision also raises concerns for related sectors such as aquafeed, which rely on complex cross-border supply chains. Rising input costs for feed could further affect the competitiveness of Norwegian salmon on the global market.
