Higgins Urges White House to Protect Domestic Shrimp Industry Following New U.S.-India Trade Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) wrote a letter to President Donald Trump and senior cabinet officials advocating for enhanced protections of the domestic shrimp industry after the framework of the new trade agreement between the U.S. and India included lower tariffs on Indian seafood.

Rep. Higgins wrote, “The people of Louisiana and their coastal communities depend on a vibrant wild-caught seafood industry that has sustained Gulf Coast families for generations. The reduction of tariffs on Indian goods will reopen the floodgates to low-quality, farm-raised Indian shrimp. India has long been among the largest importers of shrimp to the United States, and the temporary relief provided by your earlier tariff actions allowed our shrimpers to breathe again.”

“In the absence of higher tariffs on Indian seafood, I respectfully urge your administration to take other steps to protect our domestic shrimp industry within the framework of the new agreement. This can be achieved by enhanced inspections under 21 U.S. Code § 381(h), vigorous enforcement of existing antidumping and countervailing duties through 19 U.S. Code § 1671, the imposition of shrimp-specific safeguards to prevent a renewed surge of underpriced imports, and supporting legislation such as H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which would allow the destruction of product that does not meet American health standards,” Rep. Higgins continued.

Read the full letter here.