Russia’s eight-year ban on the import of American and other western seafood products would be met in kind under legislation introduced on Feb. 9 by U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
“Most Americans would be astounded to learn that Russia has unfettered access to sell its seafood in the United States at the same time America’s fishermen and seafood processors have zero access to the Russian market,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This is just wrong and hurts our fishermen.”
“As Congress works on a sanctions package to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, it’s important that we explore all sectors of the Russian economy that we can influence, such as restricting imports of Russian seafood,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Americans — and especially Alaskans — have faced a one-sided Russian embargo on our seafood since 2014, allowing Russia’s economy to benefit while U.S. seafood has been harmed.”
Sen. Sullivan sponsored the U.S-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act, S. 3614, alongside lead original cosponsor Sen. Murkowski to prohibit the import of all Russian seafood products into the United States.
Russia enacted its embargo in response to sanctions the U.S. and its allies imposed following Russia’s 2014 invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine, according to information provided by the lawmakers, who said Russian President Vladimir Putin has benefited at the expense of U.S. fishermen as the value of Russian seafood imports to the U.S. has grown 173 percent since 2013.
“For years, I’ve been pressing officials at all levels, from the Oval Office on down, to pursue a seafood trade relationship with Russia based on principles every American can understand — fairness and reciprocity. We don’t have that right now,” Sen. Sullivan said. “The Senate’s urgent interest in sanctioning Russia for its ongoing threats to Ukraine presents a window of opportunity to correct this unacceptable trade imbalance.”
Sen. Murkowski added that she’s hopeful Congress and the Biden administration will finally agree to equalize the treatment of Alaska’s seafood. “This is a perfect addition to a package meant to show Russia that undermining and disrupting global norms will not go unpunished,” she said.
The bill, which has been endorsed by the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, has been referred to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for consideration.