China and seafood trade after coronavirus: the role of state actors

Abstract

As the world’s largest seafood trading country, China has a significant influence on the global seafood system. This study explores the growing role of China as a state actor in the seafood trade since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. While China has been interested in ensuring its food security, China’s trade policy also illustrates strategic and political motivations combined with ongoing modernization efforts in food safety. Using the recent case of China’s ban on seafood imports, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, our study adds empirical evidence to support a nuanced understanding of China’s food trade measures. This implies that China as a state actor is playing a more active role even with the growing power of non-state actors in shaping the seafood trade. Our finding can be applicable to other recent cases that highlight the growing role of state actors in seafood trade.