Trump tariffs made US unviable, so Andhra looks at Australia for seafood exports

“We should continue to open new markets to de-risk ourselves from too much dependence on one market,” Lokesh said.

Lokesh, who was visiting for a seven-day learning and partnership tour under the Special Visitors Program, said that he is meeting with members of the Australian Seafood Association to help the state’s exporters find new markets amid US tariffs, apart from meeting university leaders, CEOs, and skills ministers to unlock opportunities for Andhra Pradesh’s youth. The draft permit to import conditionally non-prohibited goods by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is for two years from October 20, 2025.

Lokesh’s party, the TDP, is an NDA ally in the state and Centre.

Lokesh met with representatives of Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and its CEO, Veronica Papacosta, in Parramatta near Sydney. Seafood Industry Australia, which was started in 2017, has more than 30,000 members from the wild catch, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in Australia.

Lokesh requested the SIA to undertake trade missions and networking programs to connect Andhra Pradesh marine product exporters with buyers in Australia. He also requested them to facilitate partnerships between Andhra Pradesh’s aqua industry players and Australian importers to expand the Indian marine product market.

During his meetings with the SIA, he said that AP has introduced advanced technologies in processing, cold chain management and packaging to increase the quality and shelf life of aqua products. Other suggestions were to share expertise with AP aqua industry players for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries management to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, and to promote Andhra Pradesh’s seafood cuisine and undertake joint initiatives to attract culinary tourism.

Andhra Pradesh accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s shrimp exports and 34 per cent of marine exports, valued at around Rs 21,246 crore annually. Over 30 lakh people are dependent on shrimp exports and allied activities in the state.

US tariffs touched 59.72 per cent after Trump announced 25 per cent additional tariffs over and above the 25 per cent announced earlier, as well as the 5.76 per cent countervailing duty and 3.96 per cent anti-dumping duty.

On September 15, the AP government stated that Trump’s tariffs are estimated to have cost the state approximately Rs 25,000 crore in shrimp exports, with government officials saying that about 50 per cent of the orders were cancelled.