Washington, February 11: Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has expressed concern over the impact of the recent trade agreement between India and the United States on American shrimpers. He warned that lower tariffs on Indian seafood could harm the domestic industry.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, Higgins stated his support for efforts to rebalance trade but raised alarms about the consequences for Gulf Coast fishermen.
Higgins wrote, “I commend your leadership in securing the framework of the recent U.S.-India trade agreement and the broader goal of rebalancing trade in favor of the U.S., but I am worried about the impact on our domestic shrimpers and fishermen.”
He cautioned that reducing tariffs on Indian goods could reopen the market to lower-quality, farm-raised Indian shrimp. Higgins noted, “India has long been one of the largest importers of shrimp in the U.S. Your previous tariff actions provided temporary relief and benefited shrimpers.”
The Louisiana lawmaker compared domestic production standards to imports, stating, “Our wild Gulf shrimp are among the best in the world, produced under strict environmental and labor standards. In contrast, most shrimp imported into the U.S. benefit from less environmental oversight and poor public health guidelines in foreign seafood industries.”
Higgins urged the administration to consider alternative measures within the new agreement to address the lack of higher tariffs on Indian seafood.
Citing two regulations, the Republican member suggested, “A shrimp-specific safeguard could be implemented to prevent a resurgence of low-priced imports by enforcing better inspections and strictly applying existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties. This could be supported by laws like the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which would allow for the destruction of products that do not meet U.S. health standards.”
Appealing to President Trump, Higgins wrote, “You have always stood with American workers and producers against unfair trade practices.” He added, “Louisiana fishermen are proud Americans who only want a fair chance to compete. I respectfully request that your administration take immediate action to ensure that the benefits of fair trade policies extend to every American industry, including our vital domestic shrimpers.”
Seafood has long been a sensitive area in U.S. trade debates, especially in coastal states with large fishing communities. The shrimp issue has emerged as Washington and New Delhi seek to strengthen economic ties under a trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs and increasing market access across all sectors.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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