Trumps 25% tariff more likely to hit seafood exports from A.P.

With U.S. President Donald Trump saying a 25% tariff on Indian merchandise, the aquaculture sector in Andhra Pradesh is more likely to be severely affected, inflicting vital losses to shrimp farmers whose produces are exported.

The revised tariff imposed by the Trump administration will come into impact on August 7.

Aquaculture farmers in Andhra Pradesh who’re exporting their produce to the usA. should bear about 35% tariff, together with 25% tariff, 5.77% countervailing obligation and three.96% anti-dumping obligation from August 7, says the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) members.

Approximately 6.5 lakh aquaculture farmers domesticate shrimp, crab, fish, and different varieties in 5.7 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 50 lakh individuals are employed within the aqua sector, together with in ponds, laboratories, export corporations, processing and packing items, hatcheries, feed corporations, ice factories and chilly storage items.

During the 2023-24 monetary yr, India exported 17,81,602 metric tonnes of seafood value $7.38 Billion (₹60,523.89 crore). The contribution of Andhra Pradesh was 9.52% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), value round ₹19,428 crore, stated Joint Director (Aquaculture) Shaik Lal Mohammad.

“India is exporting shrimp, frozen fish, frozen squid, cuttle fish, lobster, crabs and different merchandise to greater than 120 nations,” stated Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) officers.

The U.S. is the most important importer of Indian seafood with a share of 34.53% by way of US$, adopted by China (18.76%), Thailand (7.77%), Vietnam (7.41%) and Japan (6.06%).

Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSADA) Vice-Chairman Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy on Tuesday informed The Hindu that the federal government was making efforts to stop losses to aqua farmers within the State.

Farmers stated the aqua sector in A.P. was dealing with a extreme disaster after the U.S. introduced 26% reciprocal tariff in April this yr. As the value of shrimp had fallen within the worldwide market, many farmers introduced crop vacation, the producers stated.

“We are usually not able to proceed aquaculture by paying a 35% tariff to the U.S., which is the most important importer of our produce. The Central authorities ought to take measures to avoid wasting the sector in Andhra Pradesh,” stated A. Veerraju, an aquaculture farmer from Kaikalur in Eluru district.