02.04.22

Cantwell Applauds US-EU Agreement to Resume Bilateral Shellfish Trade

producers will be eligible to export oysters, clams, and mussels to the European Union for the first time since 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement after the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and European Union (EU) will resume bilateral trade of live, raw and processed bivalve molluscan shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. This agreement starts with producers in Washington and Massachusetts in the US and Spain and the Netherlands in the EU. Trade is expected to begin on February 24, 2022.

“This long-overdue agreement is good news for Washington shellfish growers that have been shut out of the European market for over a decade, blocking opportunities in this important industry. As our nation’s top shellfish producer, Washington state is primed to benefit enormously from this agreement, especially Pacific and Mason Counties where shellfish farming is a major employer,” said Senator Cantwell.

Washington is the leading U.S. producer of farmed bivalves with recent annual sales of nearly $150 million. There are 327 shellfish farms across the state, which accounts for about 25% of the total domestic production by weight. Shellfish farming is one of the largest employers in Pacific and Mason Counties. Washington’s shellfish industry directly employs over 3,200 people in rural areas, with an economic contribution of over $270 million annually.

More details on export requirements can be found HERE and HERE.

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