PORTLAND, Maine - A new set of Chinese tariffs on U.S. seafood including products made from shark fins could jeopardize what remains of the American fin business.



China announced the tariffs in mid-June that are expected to apply to exported American goods such as lobster and salmon. They also will apply to whole or cut shark fins, as well as shark fin products that are canned or preserved.



The U.S. has long banned "shark finning,'' the practice of removing the fin from a shark and discarding the animal at sea. But it's still legal to remove and sell the fin of a legally harvested shark after it's brought to land.



The steep tariffs could have implications for American shark fishermen and processors. China is one of the biggest buyers of shark fins.