How your favorite fish sticks might be funding Russia's war

Russian seafood continues to flow into American markets despite international sanctions intended to deplete the Kremlin’s war chest. Although the U.S. banned Russian fish imports following the invasion of Ukraine, a trade loophole known as "substantial transformation" allows Russian-caught pollock, salmon, and cod to be processed in China and relabeled as Chinese products. University of Washington professor Jessica Gephardt notes that approximately 90% of Russian seafood previously sold in the U.S. entered through these Chinese plants, a figure that remained steady even after initial bans. This influx of cheap, subsidized Russian fish undercuts Alaskan fisheries by flooding the global market at rock-bottom prices. While the federal government has recently introduced stricter executive orders to close the China loophole, experts argue that robust scientific testing and supply chain audits are necessary to verify origin data and effectively sever the financial link between American consumers and the Russian military effort.