India to Export 40,000 Tonnes of Shrimp to US Amid Tariff Pause
India is preparing to export between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes of shrimp to the United States following a 90-day pause in proposed tariff hikes. The development offers a significant relief to Indian seafood exporters, who were facing uncertainty due to a planned 26% retaliatory tariff. The temporary pause now allows a flat 10% duty on shrimp imports from all countries, except China, enabling Indian companies to resume shipments that were previously held back.
Exporters are now mobilizing close to 2,000 containers of shrimp destined for the US market, which remains India’s largest buyer in both volume and value. The current effective customs duty on Indian shrimp entering the US stands at 17.7%, including a 5.7% countervailing duty and a 1.8% anti-dumping duty. The tariff pause provides a narrow but critical window to clear backlogs and avoid the cost burden of steeper tariffs.
The Indian seafood industry has responded swiftly to the tariff relief, viewing it as an opportunity to regain market confidence and stabilize supply chains that had been disrupted. Industry representatives have urged the Indian government to use this 90-day window to secure long-term trade assurances during upcoming negotiations, particularly to level the playing field with competing exporters.
India exported shrimp worth USD 2.7 billion to the US in the 2023–24 fiscal year, reinforcing the strategic importance of this segment for the Indian export economy. The current move is expected not only to restore momentum in trade but also to strengthen India’s position in the global seafood market amidst a complex backdrop of shifting international trade policies.
