India-US Trade Deal Explained: Why Shrimp Is Dominating American Searches

Even as details of the India-US trade deal continue to emerge, digital search trends and market movements reveal a clear winner: Indian shrimp. With tariffs sharply reduced, American consumer interest, exporter stocks, and online searches point to seafood as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new agreement.

Which Products Americans Are Searching Amid the India-US Trade Deal

Even though the fine print of the India-United States trade deal remains unclear, US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 50 per cent to 18 per cent has brought relief not just to Indian exporters, but also to America’s seafood-loving consumers.

The impact of the tariff rollback was immediately visible across financial markets, digital search behaviour, and export-oriented industries—particularly seafood.

Indian Markets React as Shrimp Exporters Gain

As tariff rates were lowered, Indian equity markets responded swiftly, with shrimp exporters emerging among the most visible beneficiaries. Stocks of seafood export companies rallied on expectations of smoother access to the US market and improved pricing competitiveness.

This rebound followed weeks of pressure on export-focused seafood stocks after the announcement of reciprocal tariffs earlier in the year.

Search Data Reveals America’s Growing Interest in Shrimp

Parallel signals appeared in the digital space. An analysis conducted by India Today’s OSINT team found that among major Indian export categories tracked via search data, shrimp consistently recorded the sharpest spikes in American online interest during key moments of tariff escalation and rollback.

When compared against search terms such as diamonds, petroleum, textiles, and electronics, shrimp stood out for its sustained and repeated surge in popularity.

A Small Crustacean at the Centre of a Trade War

Often dismissed in Indian households as tiny and unremarkable, shrimp emerged as an unlikely casualty—and beneficiary—of a modern trade dispute. While it may be waved off in some Bengali homes, shrimp remains a dinner-table staple in the United States, appearing across cuisines and regions.

From Louisiana stews and shrimp cocktails to popcorn shrimp, the crustacean is deeply embedded in American food culture.

US Shrimp Consumption and India’s Export Dominance

More than 90 per cent of the millions of pounds of shrimp consumed annually in the United States is imported, with the majority sourced from India, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

India is currently the world’s second-largest shrimp producer after Ecuador, with production focused largely on exports.
In the financial year ending March 2025, India exported frozen shrimp worth USD 500 crore globally, with the United States accounting for approximately 48 per cent of those exports.

Shrimp Among India’s Top Exports to the US

Among India’s leading export categories to the United States:

• Textiles and smartphones dominate

• Followed by seafood, gems and jewellery, auto components, carpets, and engineering goods

Certain sectors—including pharmaceuticals, smartphones, and energy products—remain exempt from tariffs, giving seafood a relatively more visible reaction to tariff changes.

Google Trends Highlights Tariff-Linked Search Spikes

When major export items were analysed as Google search terms, shrimp showed the strongest and most sustained interest.

Three Key Spikes in US Search Interest

India Today’s analysis identified three distinct surges in US searches for “shrimp” and “prawns”:

August Tariff Announcement

• The first spike followed Donald Trump’s initial tariff announcement in August

• Interest remained elevated through the month

• It aligned with the decision to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent on August 27

December Trade Talks and Holiday Season

• A second surge appeared in December

• This broadly matched US-India trade delegation meetings in New Delhi

• The spike also overlapped with Thanksgiving and Christmas, when shrimp-based dishes feature heavily on US menus

Latest Trade Deal Announcement

• Following the US President’s announcement on Monday of a trade deal that cuts tariffs to 18 per cent

• Google Trends showed a renewed uptick in shrimp searches

• Data also indicated easing prawn prices

Seafood Stocks Rebound After Tariff Cut

Shrimp exporter shares, which had been under sustained pressure following reciprocal tariff announcements, rebounded sharply after the tariff rollback.

Export-oriented companies such as:

• Avanti Feeds

• Apex Frozen Foods

• Coastal Corporation

saw strong stock recoveries as investor sentiment improved.

Why Shrimp Matters in the India-US Trade Equation

The data highlights how closely consumer behaviour, trade policy, and market sentiment are intertwined. Shrimp’s dominance in search trends underscores its importance not only as an export commodity but also as a cultural and economic link between India and the United States.