The Seafood Exporters’ Association of India (SEAI) has welcomed the “double-win” for the nation’s blue economy, following the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union and de-escalation of trade tensions with the United States.
With the U.S. market getting stabilised and the EU market opening up, industry experts predict that India is on track to surpass its 2024-25 seafood export valuation of $7.3 billion.
The twin developments are expected to save thousands of jobs across India’s coastal belt, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, which serves as the country’s primary aquaculture hub, says SEAI president G. Pawan Kumar.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Mr. Kumar said that after a gruelling six-month period, when Indian seafood was hit with punitive tariffs as high as 50%, a new trade understanding slashed that rate to 18%.
The “tariff shock” that began in August 2025 had a devastating impact. Between April and November 2025, export quantities to the U.S. — India’s largest export market ($2.78 billion in 2024-25) — plummeted by nearly 15%, he added.
