India is seeking ways to mitigate the impact of the 50% tariff imposed by the United States, particularly focusing on the seafood trade. With the US targeting Indian seafood exports, the government has alerted its exporters to explore alternative markets. The move comes in response to the tariffs, including those on seafood, implemented by the US. The government is looking towards countries like Russia and China as potential markets, given that the US has increased tariffs on goods from India.
India previously traded fish and shrimp with the US, but the new tariffs have prompted the need for alternative strategies. The government has urged seafood exporters to find new avenues for selling their shrimp and other fish varieties. A meeting was held with seafood exporters to discuss these challenges and explore solutions. The focus is on finding new markets beyond the US to ensure the continuity of seafood exports.
India’s seafood exports to the US have seen significant growth, rising from 24.4% in 2015 to 40.6% in 2024. The government aims to counteract the impact of these tariffs by exploring markets in the UK, the European Union (EU), Oman, the UAE, South Korea, Russia, and China. South Korea is of particular interest due to its high seafood consumption. India’s total seafood exports have doubled in the last ten years, reaching 600 billion rupees, showcasing the importance of this trade. In fiscal year 2025, India’s frozen shrimp exports were valued at $7.38 billion, with the US accounting for 35% ($2.8 billion) of this. A large portion of India’s seafood exports to the US consists of ‘Vannamei shrimp.’ Ecuador held a 19% share of the US’s $6 billion annual seafood imports.
