Getting Ready for Trump's Second Term! Fishery Export Promotion Campaign

 

- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announcing the 2025 Fishery Food Export Strategy with export target of USD 3.15 Billion

 

- Preparing a system for responding to protectionism, including establishing a non-tariff barrier platform

 

- Actively fostering next-generation promising products such as oysters and abalone and diversifying export destinations to the Americas, Europe, and Middle East

 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced on February 18 the 2025 Fishery and Food Export Strategy, which has the goal of achieving the highest-ever export of marine products—USD 3.15 billion—by 2025 and fostering 70 companies with USD 10 million in exports.

 

 In particular, this strategy focuses on preemptively responding to the possible imposition of universal tariffs and expected strengthening of non-tariff barriers after the launch of the second Trump administration and enhancing the global competitiveness of Korea’s fishery by developing high-value-added fishery products and establishing large-scale infrastructure.

 

 [Strategy ❶ Response to changes in the trade environment in the United States and other countries and diversification of export markets]

 

 As the second term of the Trump administration is likely to strengthen its protectionist stance, Korea will proactively prepare for its impact on trade with the United States as the main export destination for Korea's fishery products. First, MOF will △minimize the liquidity burden on export companies by providing financing support (KRW 148.9 billion excellent aquatic products support, an increase of KRW 16.5 billion compared to the previous year) and △relieve the burden of logistics cost by expanding support for domestic and international joint logistics centers.

 

 Moreover, it will expand the operation of a dedicated Non-Tariff Barrier Response Center for export regulations and newly establish a non-tariff barrier platform. In particular, in preparation for import restrictions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which are scheduled to take effect in 2026, MOF will establish a response system including the issuance of export certificates and build an export history information management system for aquatic fishery products.

 

 Furthermore, the ministry will strengthen the ability of small and medium-sized export companies to respond to trade risks caused by exchange rate fluctuations and trade disputes by expanding export insurance and voucher support.

 

 [Strategy ❷ Cultivation and high value-added of next-generation promising products such as oysters and abalone]

 

 MOF will further solidify the position of gim (dried laver)—the number one strategic export fishery product—as the leader in the global market by providing stable production support based on comprehensive measures for the full production-processing-export cycle. To achieve this, MOF will pursue the following measures: ▲development of new varieties resistant to high water temperatures; ▲introduction of a grading system for gim; ▲establishment of an international gim trading exchange; and ▲expansion of the K-Gim brand. For tuna as the second-largest export item, the ministry will pursue market expansion through high-value-added strategies such as development of sashimi-grade fillets and premium processed tuna products and support for acquiring international certifications.

 

 Moreover, to target the global market actively with next-generation promising items such as oysters, the ministry plans to develop processed products such as smoked oysters and oyster gambas for emerging markets in Europe, Middle East, and ASEAN regions.

 

 [Strategy ❸ Building large-scale infrastructure such as smart processing complexes and export clusters]

 

 MOF will also accelerate efforts to build a foundation for expanding exports of fishery products. The ministry will create a specialized seaweed export complex in Jeonnam Province and a specialized R&D export complex in Busan and build smart processing complexes in Jeonbuk and Gyeongbuk Provinces to promote industrial clustering by region.

 

 Moreover, it plans to secure stable export volume by supporting smart processing plants and automated processing facilities. In particular, it will build a competitive, high-quality fishery product production system by introducing IoT- and AI-based smart processing technologies. It will also promote the establishment of a collaborative system between the relevant ministries and specialized agencies to respond to intellectual property rights damages such as unauthorized preemption and theft of brands by fishery product export companies.

 

 “We will preemptively respond to changes in trade policies—such as strengthening of non-tariff barriers under the new US administration—to minimize uncertainty in fishery product exports. The government will further solidify the global status of K-Gim, which accounts for 70% of the global dry laver market, this year and will provide all-out support for promising marine products such as oysters and abalone to be recognized further on the global stage by increasing added value and diversifying export markets,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.