Parliament Question: Tariff Hike

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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