Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens protections and revenue for domestic shrimp producers and funds food-safety inspections while increasing consumer and business seafood prices, adding compliance and administrative burdens, and raising the risk of trade retaliation.
Domestic shrimp fishers and U.S. seafood producers (small businesses) will face less import competition and likely higher local prices, supporting domestic jobs and producer revenues.
Importers and domestic seafood processors will get increased funding for inspections, improving food-safety checks for shrimp and catfish and reducing the risk that contaminated products reach consumers.
USTR, Customs, importers and exporters gain clearer statutory vocabulary and an explicit legal path for modifying tariff treatment consistent with GATT, reducing ambiguity and lowering the risk of successful WTO disputes.
Middle-class households, restaurants, and retail customers will likely pay higher prices for shrimp and related seafood because of higher duties, appraisal floors, and per-kilogram tariffs.
The measures increase the risk of trade tensions or retaliatory measures (notably with India), which could harm other U.S. exporters and broader trade relations.
New appraisal rules (U.S. ex-vessel pricing), statutory definitions, and expanded duties create valuation disputes and compliance burdens for importers and for Customs/USDA, increasing administrative workload and potential legal disputes.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Phases in higher duties and a per-kilogram charge on shrimp imports from India, sets a customs appraisal floor tied to U.S. ex-vessel prices, and funds inspections with collected charges.
Official title: Increase the rate of duty on shrimp originating from India, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 18, 2025 by Bill Cassidy · Last progress September 18, 2025
Imposes phased tariff increases and a per-kilogram import fee on shrimp and certain shrimp products originating in India beginning January 1, 2026, raises customs appraisal floors tied to U.S. ex-vessel shrimp prices, and directs collected fees to fund inspections of imported shrimp and catfish. Also amends the federal "wild fish" definition and related regulation so certain cooked shrimp and crawfish products retain country-of-origin labeling treatment. The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to pursue adjustments to the U.S. Schedule of Concessions at the WTO to accommodate the tariff increases while observing international obligations; it also states a non-binding Sense of Congress supporting the policy to protect domestic producers and encourage sustainable harvesting and worker/environmental protections in supplying countries.