A session at Seafood Expo Global 2026 will examine how tariff policy between the EU and US is reshaping seafood sourcing economics, competitive positioning, and supplier-buyer relationships. Led by Richard Barry of the National Fisheries Institute, the panel is expected to cover how tariff structures are affecting species-level pricing and what buyers and suppliers are doing to adapt. With trade tensions continuing to influence global supply chains, the session reflects a central concern for how the industry navigates an increasingly complex commercial environment.
Among the most anticipated sessions at Seafood Expo Global 2026 is one focused on the intersection of tariff policy and seafood trade between the EU and US markets. With US-China trade tensions continuing to influence routing decisions and cost structures across multiple commodity lines, the session reflects a broader industry concern about how trade policy is reshaping the economics of global seafood sourcing.
The session, titled “Seafood Trade in the Tariff Era: An Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities Between the EU and US,” will be led by Richard Barry, Senior Market Analyst and Director of Programs at the National Fisheries Institute, according to the official SEG26 conference programme. The panel is expected to examine how tariff structures are affecting competitive positioning between producing regions, which species are most exposed to pricing volatility, and how buyers and suppliers are adapting their commercial relationships in response.
Tariff structures do not just affect the final price of seafood products in destination markets. They influence which producing regions suppliers prioritise, which species become more or less competitive relative to each other, and how buyers negotiate contracts with suppliers who face cost uncertainty at the origin end.
For European buyers who source from multiple regions, including Asia, Africa, and South America, tariff differentials between those regions have always been a factor in sourcing decisions. The current environment has made those differences more volatile, and the expectation of further policy changes has made buyers more cautious about committing to long-term supply agreements without pricing flexibility clauses.
The session will cover the current state of EU-US seafood trade flows and how they have shifted over the past 18 months, the impact of tariff escalation on specific species categories including whitefish and salmon, sourcing strategies that buyers and suppliers are using to mitigate tariff risk, and the role of certification and traceability requirements as competitive differentiators in a tariff-heavy environment. Program details are subject to change.
The fact that a tariff-focused session is among the most anticipated at SEG26 reflects the degree to which trade policy has become central to how the global seafood industry thinks about supply chain strategy. Businesses that understand the tariff landscape and maintain diversified sourcing relationships are better positioned than those treating trade policy as someone else’s problem.
Holt Seafood’s global partner network, spanning Asia, Africa, and South America, gives the company flexibility to work with buyers on routing and sourcing decisions as trade conditions evolve. The Barcelona team is available to discuss how the tariff environment is affecting sourcing decisions with European buyers ahead of SEG26.
“The businesses that handle trade complexity best are the ones that have invested in understanding it, not just absorbing it.”
Our business focus is to provide our customers with a clear, reliable supply chain, allowing them to focus on selling their product. We have established strong alliances with factories in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Africa and South America, enabling us to focus on product development and value added services for our customers.
Holt Seafood Company is a family-owned multi-generational business established in 1989 by Beverley and Neil Holt. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with European operations now based in Barcelona, Spain, we remain proudly independent and family-run across generations.
Over 35 years in the industry has taught us what buyers actually need: consistency, reliability, and a supplier who doesn't disappear when things get difficult. We maintain direct relationships with our factories, manage quality at the source, and ensure full traceability from catch to delivery.