NPR – Food

Despite Ban, Russian Seafood Is Still the Main Dish on some American Plates

The United States banned Russian seafood imports in 2022, yet Russian fish continues to appear on American plates through Chinese processing facilities that re‑label the product as Chinese. This loophole exploits the trade‑law concept of "substantial transformation," allowing harvested fish to be labeled by the country of final processing rather than the country of catch. Despite new executive orders targeting the China‑Russia supply chain, data show roughly 90% of Russian seafood in the U.S. still flows through Chinese plants, sustaining Kremlin revenues and keeping consumer prices low. Industry groups and Alaska lawmakers are pressuring Washington for stricter enforcement, but the system remains imperfect.