While American consumers and markets wonder and worry about President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs, there’s one group cheering him as they hope he’ll prop up their sinking business: Gulf coast shrimpers.
American shrimpers have been hammered in recent years by cheap imports flooding the U.S. market and restaurants, driving down prices to the point that profits are razor thin or shrimpers are losing money and struggling to stay afloat.
Tariffs, they hope, could level the playing field and help their businesses not just survive but thrive.
Craig Wallis, owner of W&W Dock & Ice, has been in the business since 1975 and noted that back then shrimpers would run their trawlers 12 months a year. “Not anymore. That’s no longer affordable as Gulf shrimpers compete with cheaper product coming in from South America, China and India,” Mr. Wallis said. He said he’s only able to run his shrimp boats about half the year, yet “the bills keep coming every month.”
Mr. Wallis, said “I don’t know where the tariffs are going to be settled at,” he said, “but it’s definitely going to help.” Another shrimper Phan Tran said Tariffs will help keep the market fair for local shrimpers. – AP
