Russian seafood reaches US plates despite import ban
7 reported
According to a report from NPR, Russian seafood continues to reach American consumers despite a U.S. ban imposed in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The ban targeted Russian exports including seafood, but fish caught by Russian vessels is still entering the U.S. market, often after being processed in China. The report explains that a trade law concept called “substantial transformation” allows the country of origin on a label to be the place where the fish was last radically processed, not where it was harvested. Russian fish is sold to Chinese processing plants, where it is transformed into products like breaded fish fingers, canned pink salmon, or imitation crab, and then exported to the U.S. with a label stating it is from China. A study co-authored by University of Washington assistant professor Jessica Gephart found that before the 2022 invasion, about 90% of Russian seafood sold in the U.S. came through these Chinese plants, and that number did not significantly change after the initial ban. The report notes that additional layers of rules and executive orders have since been implemented, including a ban on fish coming through the China loophole, but the system remains imperfect, and Russia’s commercial fishing industry reported record revenues in 2025 with increased shipments to China.
What’s reported
The U.S. banned Russian seafood imports in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian fish is still entering the U.S. market, often after being processed in China.
A trade law concept called “substantial transformation” means the country of origin on a label is where the fish was last radically processed, not where it was caught.
Before the 2022 invasion, about 90% of Russian seafood sold in the U.S. came through Chinese processing plants.
That percentage did not significantly change after the initial ban, according to Jessica Gephart’s study.
Additional rules and executive orders have since been implemented, including a ban on fish coming through the China loophole.
Russia’s commercial fishing industry reported record revenues in 2025 and a big increase in shipments to China.
Key figures
Wailin Wong, reporter from The Indicator (NPR)
Nate Hegyi, reporter from New Hampshire Public Radio
Jessica Gephart, assistant professor at the University of Washington who studies the seafood trade
Sources: NPR
