'Hurts American fishermen': Oregon stakeholders urge trade leaders to change U.K. tariffs

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon fishermen are asking federal leaders to step in on trade challenges between the seafood industry and the U.K.

On Wednesday, the Shrimp Producers Marketing Cooperative and Oregon Department of Agriculture joined the Oregon Trawl Commission in urging Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to negotiate tariffs imposed by the foreign government.

The letter states that the U.K. enforces a 20% “Most Favored Nation” tariff on shrimp and prawn cooked and peeled within the U.S. But following a public process just last year, the U.K. approved ODA’s request to suspend tariffs on Pandalus jordani — or coldwater pink shrimp.

However, Oregon’s shrimp industry reported that the application was then denied earlier this year. The denial was “possibly due to the anticipated tr