**Summary:**
On July 29, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry addressed concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1419 regarding the potential impact of tariff hikes by the U.S. government on Indian seafood exports. The question specifically addressed a reported 26% tariff hike on Indian goods, including seafood, and its potential impact given India's position as a major seafood exporter to the U.S. with a 35% market share (as of an unspecified date). The question also highlighted a perceived disadvantage compared to Ecuador, which was allegedly facing a lower 10% tariff.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, clarified that while the U.S. had announced a reciprocal tariff of 26% on certain Indian exports, including seafood, it had not been implemented. Instead, the U.S. had imposed an additional 10% duty on seafood imports irrespective of the country of origin, affecting both India and Ecuador. Data from ITC Trademap indicated that India's share in the total seafood imports of the U.S. was 26.5% in 2024.
The government stated its commitment to supporting the Indian seafood business through diplomatic engagement and policy support. Negotiations for the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), launched in March 2025, are underway. Five rounds of negotiations have been completed, with the most recent round held in Washington D.C., USA, from July 14-18, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
U.S. government: The government of the United States of America, which announced a tariff hike on goods from India.
India: The Republic of India, a country whose seafood exports are impacted by the U.S. tariff hike.
Indian seafood exports: Exports of seafood products from India to other countries, particularly the U.S., which are affected by tariff changes.
SHRI V K SREEKANDAN: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the unstarred question about the tariff hike.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for commerce and industry.
Ecuador: A country in South America that is a competitor to India in seafood exports to the U.S. and is also subject to tariffs.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry who answered the question.
Washington DC, USA: Location of the India US bilateral Trade Agreement BTA negotiations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1419
ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025
TARIFF HIKE
1419. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री) be
pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that the 26% tariff hike announced by the U.S. government
on goods from India will have an immediate impact on Indian seafood exports,
if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also true that the impact on Indian seafood exports to the U.S. will
be significant considering that India is the largest exporter of seafood to the
U.S. having 35% share in the U.S. market, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that India's closest rival in the seafood export to the
U.S., Ecuador has been slapped with a 10% tariff and this difference of 17%
tariff is a cause for worry for the Indian seafood business; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the government to
safeguard Indian seafood business?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d) While the US had announced reciprocal tariff of 26% on certain Indian
exports, including seafood, to the US, the same has not been implemented. Currently,
the US has imposed an additional 10% duty on seafood imports irrespective of country
of origin including on imports from India and Ecuador. During the year 2024, India's
share in the total seafood imports of US was 26.5%. (Source: ITC Trademap)
The Government of India remains committed to supporting its seafood business
through sustained diplomatic engagement and policy support. India US bilateral Trade
Agreement (BTA) negotiations were launched in March 2025. Five rounds of
negotiations have been held, the last being from July 14-18th, 2025 at Washington DC,
USA.
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