A 40-percent U.S. ad-valorem tariff that took effect on August 6 has pushed most Brazilian seafood exports to the United States above the 50 percent duty mark, bringing the sector to a virtual standstill.
In the port city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state of northeast Brazil, processing plants now work at less than half of its previous capacity.
At a processing plant, orders bound for the United States have dried up and the once bustling workshop has become silent.
The 50-year-old plant, once staffed by more than 300 workers, has cut its workforce and left some machines idle.
"This is the workshop where we processed all the seafood bound for the United States. In the past, the catch we unloaded in the morning would be on the shelves in Miami the next day, feeding the U.S. market. We had an incredibly efficient, just-in-time supply chain. But as you can see now, everything has come to a standstill," said Arimar Franca Filho, owner of the plant.
The slump has rippled out to sea.
Roughly 23,000 registered fishermen in Rio Grande do Norte depend on the trade.
Luiz Carlos Silva has fished these waters for 25 years. Now his income has fallen sharply due to the tariff.
"Things are getting tougher and tougher. Our pay consists of a base wage plus a share of the catch. With the boats staying in port, there's no share, just the base wage. That makes life very hard," he complained.
"More than 70 percent of the local fleet, both inshore and offshore vessels, has now been idled. There's really not much we can do: either we find new markets, or our catch simply won't sell," said Filho.
Brazilian seafood industry reels from fresh US tariffs
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
