A fiery letter from Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) to President Donald Trump exposes cracks in the US-India trade agreement, zeroing in on dire consequences for the nation’s shrimp harvesters. The Gulf state congressman fears that tariff cuts on Indian seafood will unleash a torrent of low-grade imports, eroding the competitive edge of America’s finest wild-caught shrimp.
Balancing praise for Trump’s rebalancing push with pointed criticism, Higgins stressed the deal’s blind spot for domestic fishermen. India’s hefty share of US shrimp imports had waned under past protections, fostering industry recovery. But easing tariffs risks reversing those gains, favoring factory-farmed products from lax-regulated foreign facilities over rigorously produced Gulf bounty.
Higgins masterfully juxtaposed the two worlds: superior US standards versus overseas shortcuts in oversight and hygiene. His solutions? Ramp up inspections, enforce anti-dumping rigorously, deploy countervailing duties, and leverage acts like the Destruction of Hazardous Imports to nix unsafe goods. These shrimp-tailored strategies, he argued, are essential within the new framework.
Addressing Trump personally, Higgins lauded his pro-worker stance and called for urgent safeguards. ‘Give our shrimpers the fair fight they deserve,’ he wrote. This saga reflects seafood’s perennial friction in trade talks, amplified in fishing-dependent regions. As bilateral ties advance with tariff relief goals, Higgins’ voice amplifies the call to prioritize American industries in global deals.