To protect the struggling U.S. domestic shrimp industry, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) has introduced a bill targeting subsidies offered by the Indian government to its shrimp sector. The proposed legislation aims to level the playing field by matching U.S. tariffs on Indian shrimp imports with the subsidies provided to the Indian shrimp industry.
Senator Cassidy’s bill has gained significant support, with endorsements from key players in the seafood industry, including the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), the Louisiana Shrimp Association, the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, and the American Shrimp Processors Association.
The SSA’s executive director, John Williams, emphasized the urgency of addressing what he referred to as India’s unfair trade practices. Williams cited concerns about India’s use of banned antibiotics in aquaculture, tolerance of forced laboUr in shelling plants, and substantial export subsidies, which, according to him, are detrimental to the U.S. market.
Senator Cassidy, in his pursuit of fair trade practices, has also introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act. This companion bill seeks to establish a joint agricultural trade enforcement task force dedicated to monitoring and recommending strategies for addressing Chinese industrial subsidies.
Speaking on the matter, Cassidy highlighted the importance of ensuring the health and standards of domestically produced seafood. He stressed that the bills are crucial in maintaining a level playing field for Louisiana shrimpers and the food they supply to Americans.
This legislative effort aligns with broader initiatives by federal and state lawmakers to curb the influx of imported shrimp into the U.S. Earlier this year, Representatives Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) and Kathy Castor (D-Florida) introduced the Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp Act, focusing on funding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rigorous testing and inspections of shrimp imports. The proposed funding would be generated from tariffs on imported shrimp.
The push for fair trade comes at a time when the U.S. Commission on International Trade, in June 2023, voted to maintain anti-dumping duties on frozen warm-water shrimp producers from India and other countries. The legislative landscape reflects a concerted effort to shield the domestic shrimp industry from both natural disasters and what is perceived as unfair competition.”
