Trump's Tariffs to Hit Andhra Aqua Sector Hard

AMERICAN President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs have hit Andhra Pradesh's aqua sector badly as exporters have stopped purchasing shrimp from farmers.

- Y BRAHMAJI @ Vijayawada

AMERICAN President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs have hit Andhra Pradesh's aqua sector badly as exporters have stopped purchasing shrimp from farmers. Following imposition of tariffs, the prices of shrimp have declined.

Before the announcement of the tariffs, the Vannamei shrimp, which is widely cultivated across the State, was priced at ₹460 for 30 count, and it declined to ₹410 by Friday morning. The number of shrimp per kg determines the count. The prices of all the counts of shrimp ranging from 20 to 100 have been hit.

Shrimp farmers are a depressed lot with the declining prices as it is the harvesting time. Andhra Pradesh is one of the major exporters, and a leading producer of aqua products, accounting for 41% of the total output.