The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce reviewed the impact of US retaliatory tariffs on India’s fisheries and marine exports, with stakeholders urging diversification of markets and policy support to protect livelihoods and competitiveness.
January 2026: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce recently held consultations with key stakeholders to review India-US trade relations, with a particular focus on the impact of retaliatory tariffs imposed by the United States on India’s fisheries and marine products sector.
The meeting was chaired by Dola Sen, Chairperson of the Committee. It was attended by Visakhapatnam MP Mathukumilli Sribharat, former Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury, and a delegation of 15 Members of Parliament.
Addressing the meeting, Sribharat called for coordinated support from government institutions and regulatory bodies to help the fisheries industry address challenges arising from its heavy dependence on the US market. He underscored the need to safeguard the livelihoods of lakhs of fishermen, farmers, and workers linked to marine exports.
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Against the backdrop of US retaliatory tariffs on Indian marine products, Sribharat advised industry representatives to diversify export destinations, tap alternative global markets, and modernise operations in line with international standards to remain competitive.
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman D.V. Swamy made a detailed presentation on the impact of the tariffs, noting that a reciprocal base tariff of 50%, coupled with an anti-dumping duty of 2.49% and a countervailing duty of 5.77%, has pushed the total duty burden on Indian shrimp exports to 58.26%. He warned that this poses a serious threat to the global competitiveness of India’s shrimp sector.
Representatives from a wide range of organisations — including the Fishing Boat Owners Association, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Department of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, MPEDA, Department of Commerce, Export Inspection Council, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Visakhapatnam Chamber of Commerce, Seafood Exporters Association of India, All India Shrimp Hatcheries Association, and the Society of Aquaculture Professionals — shared their perspectives. Officials from EXIM Bank, Union Bank of India, and the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) also offered suggestions on possible remedial measures.
The Committee assured stakeholders that their concerns and recommendations would be carefully examined and reflected in its submissions to the Government of India, to strengthen fisheries exports and insulate the sector from adverse international trade actions.
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