Fisheries Subsidies Spark New US-India Seafood Trade Dispute
A fresh trade disagreement between the United States and India has emerged after the US Trade Representative's office criticised India's fisheries subsidies. The office argues that these subsidies allow Indian seafood to be sold in America at prices below market value, affecting American fishermen and the seafood supply chain.
In a Wednesday statement backing the Trump administration's 'America First Seafood Strategy', the USTR named India's subsidy programmes along with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Vietnam. The office said both issues directly harm American fishing businesses and their supply chains.
A strategy paper dated October 23 confirms that the USTR will continue monitoring concerns linked to India's broad fisheries subsidy schemes. According to the paper, Indian producers can export seafood to the US below market prices because of these subsidies.
The White House fact sheet published the same day, however, did not refer to India or any other nation. The reference to India is confined to the strategy document.
The USTR also took issue with the trade policies of Japan and the European Union. It said Japan's import tariffs of up to 10 percent and its import quotas disadvantage US exporters. It said the EU's catch scheme requires American fishermen to take on additional documentation and reporting responsibilities.
The office further said illegally caught and heavily subsidised foreign seafood is forcing American fishermen into unfair competition. It also raised concerns about products that involve forced labour on fishing vessels.
US seafood exports rose to 5.53 billion dollars in 2025, a 12 percent increase over 2024, the office said. It also noted that Taiwan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Ecuador and Indonesia have committed under reciprocal trade agreements to resolve concerns about harmful fisheries subsidies or illegal fishing.
Bangladesh's inclusion is especially relevant for India. The South Asian neighbour has accepted fisheries commitments, while the document makes no mention of any similar commitment from India.
India remains a major shrimp exporter to the US, but its seafood shipments have faced American tariffs, anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties in recent years.
New Delhi has repeatedly defended its fisheries support policy at the World Trade Organization, saying it sustains millions of small and traditional fishing families. The US focus on Indian subsidies may therefore become a continuing point of disagreement in seafood trade between the two countries.
According to the White House fact sheet, the new strategy is designed to protect American fishermen from unfair competition by strengthening import certification and compliance, while improving access for US products abroad. The administration also announced guaranteed loans of more than 5 billion dollars for meat and seafood processing through the US Department of Agriculture.