Shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh appear to be among the first victims of newly imposed Trump tariffs.
Yes, the major industry of Andhra Pradesh is fishery exports, particularly to the USA.
With the United States being one of the largest importers of Indian shrimp, the steep duties have created a tough market for Indian exporters.
Competing nations like Indonesia and Ecuador now enjoy a significant advantage, with tariff rates at just 19% and 15% respectively, compared to India’s much higher rates at 50%.
This has made Indian shrimp less competitive in terms of pricing, despite the country's strong presence in global seafood markets.
Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for a significant portion of India’s shrimp exports, is feeling the brunt.
Farmers and exporters alike are worried at declining demand, lower prices and rising operational costs.
Industry experts warn that without immediate policy intervention or renegotiation of tariff terms, India could lose its market share to these emerging competitors.
The situation poses a serious threat to thousands of livelihoods in Andhra Pradesh’s coastal farming communities.
Seeking alternatives to the US market is not easy for fish traders in Andhra Pradesh.
It takes time to identify and establish new export destinations and meanwhile, they struggle to cope with mounting losses.
The short shelf life of seafood adds to the urgency and pressure.
Moreover, finding reliable alternative markets and building a loyal customer base is a challenging and time consuming process.
