Hyde-Smith Introduces Bill to Protect Gulf Shrimpers From Influx of Imported Shrimp From Ecuador

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 HYDE-SMITH INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT GULF SHRIMPERS FROM INFLUX OF IMPORTED SHRIMP FROM ECUADOR Bill Would Target Ecuador with Higher Tariffs to Level Playing Field, Boost Inspections WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today introduced new legislation to help protect American wild-caught shrimp producers from the rapidly growing influx of imported shrimp from Ecuador, which has overtaken India as the source of foreign shrimp, crawfish, and other seafood products. The Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act would authorize a multi-phased regimen that increases tariffs on specified shrimp and prepared shrimp products imported from Ecuador, while generating revenue for inspections and strengthening country-of-origin labeling requirements. “Not much has changed since the federal government found that subsidized Ecuadorian shrimp contributed to material injury to the U.S. shrimp industry, except that Ecuador has only increased its shipments into the American market.  As a result, Mississippi shrimpers and their counterparts across the Gulf face greater downward pressure on the prices they can get for their products,” Hyde-Smith said. “The Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act would work to level the playing field so that American shrimpers and processors can continue to compete and grow.” Ecuador unseated India as the largest supplier of frozen warmwater shrimp to the U.S. market, accounting for more than 40 percent of U.S. imports.  The U.S. shrimp industry indicates that approximately 849 million pounds of shrimp during the first six months of 2026, including about 316 million pounds from Ecuador. The Ecuador Shrimp Tariff Act would: Phase in higher tariffs on specified shrimp and prepared shrimp products imported from Ecuador, reaching a 40 percent general duty rate beginning Jan. 1, 2029. Impose an additional duty of $0.10 per kilogram on covered shrimp imports, with an amount equal to the receipts dedicated to inspections of imported shrimp and catfish. Strengthen country-of-origin labeling for whole cooked shrimp, whole cooked crawfish, and specified cooked shrimp and crawfish sections. Direct the United States Trade Representative to modify the U.S. Schedule of Concessions to the GATT 1994 to accommodate the increased duties. Hyde-Smith last year cosponsored the India Shrimp Tariff Act , which is like the new legislation she introduced to respond to Ecuadorian imports.  It is her latest action to address unfair trade practices that threaten the Gulf shrimp industry. In June, Hyde-Smith introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act (S.4805) to prohibit federal funds from being made available to international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, for financing activities related to foreign shrimp farming, processing, or exporting.  Early last year, she introduced the Safer Shrimp Imports Act (S.667) to mandate overseas shrimp facility inspections and require foreign countries wishing to export shrimp to the United States to meet food safety inspection standards equivalent to those of U.S. shrimp producers. ### Issues Agriculture Foreign Affairs Jobs and Economy Rural Communities Region Coast Delta