Impact of US Tariffs on Aquarium Imports

Like millions of other people, I have been watching what’s going on in America of late. When Donald Trump announced his list of tariffs on imports from other countries, my first thought was that we, the UK, got off lightly, apart from the automotive industry that is. And my next thought was how it would affect the global aquarium market.

America does have its own aquaculture industry for ornamental coldwater, tropical and even marine fish and corals, but it’s limited, can nowhere near meet consumer supply, and is massively supplemented from imports of fish, aquatic plants, corals and invertebrates from all over the world. And some of the largest fish exporting countries were hit heavily by Trump tariffs.

Singapore, Australia, Brazil and Colombia only got hit with the baseline tariff of 10%, which is probably doable, but Vietnam (who supply fresh and saltwater) got hit with 46% tariffs, as did Sri Lanka, with 44%. Indonesia is a major fresh and saltwater livestock supplier and is hit with 32% tariffs, and Fiji, which has only recently reopened for coral exports, now faces 32% tariffs on its exports to the US aquarium industry. 

The All American Koi Show just happened at the end of March, but now Japanese koi face 24% tariffs. Israel (freshwater and marine fish), 17%, Malaysia, 24%, and the Philippines, 18%. The list goes on. 

And now the industry is starting to comment. Ornamental Fish International put out this statement yesterday:

“A quiet storm is gathering strength in the ornamental fish world, and its name is tariffs. The U.S. government is set to impose sweeping new import duties on aquarium fish, corals, and live aquatic plants—some as high as 54%. Set to take effect from 9 April 2025, these tariffs represent more than just a trade policy adjustment; they mark a significant challenge for the global ornamental aquatic industry and everyone connected to it—from exporters and transshippers to retailers and home hobbyists.

The reality is that a significant proportion of all marine species sold in U.S. pet stores are imported. Even in freshwater, where there is a domestic farming base, the bulk of the supply is still international. The U.S. simply does not have the capacity to produce enough to meet its own demand. So while these measures may be aimed at broader economic objectives, they will hit the aquarium industry hard and fast.

The tariffs will apply to the declared value of the animals, not freight, which helps temper the blow a little. However, fish and corals from Indonesia and Fiji will attract a 32% tariff, while imports from China will cop a staggering 54%  before freight and retail markup. This means that retail prices are going to rise—and quickly.”

Tariff Confusion Will Complicate Buying Behaviour

“One of the most disruptive aspects of this policy is the lack of uniformity. Instead of a flat tariff rate, the U.S. is applying a country-by-country scale, which ranges from 10% to over 50%. This immediately introduces a new layer of complexity into sourcing decisions for U.S. importers and distributors.

In practical terms, importers will now be forced to consider relative cost differences—not just based on species quality or availability, but also on tariff rates. For example, a fish from Indonesia (32% tariff) may be undercut by a similar species from Singapore or Colombia, depending on their assigned tariff bracket. It’s not hard to imagine importers shifting sourcing away from higher-tariff countries, regardless of the historical relationships or sustainability credentials of those suppliers.

This kind of reactive market adjustment may hurt long-established supply chains, destabilise existing conservation programs, and reward volume over values like quality, ethics, or environmental care. It could also lead to speculative buying, as U.S. businesses scramble to restructure logistics around the most favourable tariff jurisdictions.

For small businesses that rely on the U.S. market, especially in places like Southeast Asia, Latin & South America, and the Pacific, this brings a wave of uncertainty. But it’s not just about cost. The ornamental fish trade sustains thousands of livelihoods around the world and underpins conservation outcomes in many regions. Well-managed wild collection supports reef and habitat protection. Community-based aquaculture gives people a viable alternative to extractive industries. Tariffs of this scale risk upending all of that, driving down trade volumes and making it harder for small suppliers to stay in the game.”

OFI’s Perspective

“As the global voice of the ornamental fish industry, OFI is deeply concerned about the unintended consequences of these tariffs. We believe in sustainable, responsible, and equitable trade. The ornamental fish industry supports tens of thousands of jobs around the world, many in rural or coastal regions with few other economic opportunities. It is also a powerful tool for environmental stewardship, with well-managed wild collection programs helping to protect coral reefs, mangroves, and freshwater habitats.

Trade barriers of this magnitude risk undoing decades of progress, not just for businesses, but for conservation and sustainable development.

We encourage our members and partners to stay informed, to speak with their local industry bodies, and to reach out to U.S. contacts to better understand what’s unfolding. We also encourage regulators to take a moment to consider the broader impacts—because while this might seem like a domestic economic lever, it sends a shockwave through a truly global, interconnected trade.

For now, we brace for the April 9 rollout. Let’s keep talking, keep advocating, and keep working together to protect what this industry has built.”

– OFI

Dry goods

But it’s not just about livestock, as virtually everyone buys their dry goods and key electricals from China. Today, they are talking about a 104% tariff on China, and that will make Chinese goods (which have already risen dramatically over the past ten years) considerably more expensive.

There are many large american aquatic companies from Central Garden and Pet to Mars, Spectrum Brands, Aperture Pet & Life to DiCon, owner of the Kessil lighting brand, but many import ready-made aquariums and electricals direct from China, and even those who “manufacture” on American soil may still be assembling products with a degree of Chinese imported parts. Even down to a power cable.

When I worked with Kessil, it was part of a huge fibre optic company called DiCon. An American company, and we think of Kessil as an American light. But in my time with them, the Kessil aquarium lights were being manufactured in Taiwan, which has now been hit with a 32% tariff. Waterbox aquariums are made in China, as is Reef Octopus Equipment, Ice Cap, Ink Bird and many more. Does Red Sea get hit by 17% tariffs as an Israeli company? Or 104% for sending a product that’s made in China? And don’t forget German companies Deltec and Tunze, Italian Sicce, Polish Reef Factory and Aquaforest, all of whom are European Union member countries, so are hit with a flat 20% tariff. The implications to all this run deep…

The biggest market

During my time on Reefbuilders, the owners and their advertisers all told me that America is the world’s largest aquatic market, so the consequences of all this could profoundly affect its international suppliers and even the UK and European aquatic markets. For most Chinese electrical manufacturers, the US is their biggest export market by far, so even if they managed to increase sales in the UK (which they won’t as the market is finite), it will in no way make up for the loss of sales and revenues from the US. Unless American consumers are prepared to swallow huge hobby price hikes and carry on as normal, which I don’t suspect they will. And worse, the US could enter into a recession too. 

Everything moves so quickly these days. I always thought of the US as such a durable aquarium market. They still pay far less for electricity than we do, and reefkeeping in particular is its own market, with lots of aquacultured (and now spawned) corals, and lots of people breeding clownfish and other saltwater favourites. But I’m getting anxious about what’s going to happen over there. They can’t suddenly become the world’s largest tropical fish farmer, their seas don’t have the corals that the Indo-Pacific has, and like every other country in the world, their aquatic equipment supply is heavily reliant on imported products. 

British aquatic exports

I can think of about five British aquatic companies who export genuine British-made goods to the American market. A 10% tariff on Britain could be worse, and it may even advantage them versus European and Asian suppliers now. But if the American aquatic market slows down and shrinks, and suppliers in Europe and Asia go out of business, jobs in the global supply chain will go too.  

The aquarium and pond markets already face so many threats, but I never before considered that the introduction of US trade tariffs would be one of them.