Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 26: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that several Indian seafood exporters have avoided major losses from the recent US tariff decision, as the European Union has approved 102 Indian exporters to access its market after nearly nine years.

Goyal said the government had expected a temporary setback for the marine sector since the US did not move ahead with a bilateral trade agreement this year. However, the EU’s decision has provided a major boost.

“Our seafood exports, which we thought would take a hit as we have not concluded the bilateral trade agreement… We are happy to note that thanks to quality control measures, Indian seafood exporters have gained access to the EU market after nine years,” Goyal said.

With the Quality Control Order (QCO) strengthening domestic standards, the Ministry believes Indian exporters are now more competitive and better placed to explore new global markets. Goyal added that seafood exports have seen strong growth over the last three months following the EU’s approval.

He noted that the sector was among the worst hit after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs. Despite this, exports have shown improvement. “From April to October last year our seafood export was $4.21 billion. This year it is already $4.82 billion. All of this leads to job creation and business opportunities,” he said.

European nations have traditionally been tough markets for marine products, with the bloc not approving any Indian fishing or processing units for almost a decade. The Commerce Ministry said the breakthrough came after India tightened its quality ecosystem through a series of QCOs, which also played a key role during negotiations with the EU.

According to the Ministry, the EU’s approval is important not just for immediate export gains but also for India’s long-term goal of positioning itself as a dependable supplier of high-standard marine products.