New delhi, June 24 -- India may lower duties on shrimp imports if the US reciprocates in the proposed bilateral trade agreement, according to two people close to the discussions. The commerce ministry is closely monitoring the US department of commerce's actions on countervailing duty (CVD) and anti-dumping duty (ADD) on shrimp imports from India, the officials said on the condition of anonymity. Indian shrimp exports to the US face an effective customs duty of 17.7%, including CVD and ADD, and a 10% baseline tariff imposed on 2 April. India levies a 30% duty on US-origin Pacific white shrimp. India is keeping a "close watch" on these developments and may consider recalibrating its own duties on shrimp imports if the US undertakes a revision, the first official said. Such a move, the second official suggested, would demonstrate India's commitment to fair trade practices and its willingness to align with a key trading partner, provided the interests of the domestic shrimp farming and processing industry are safeguarded. Queries sent to the commerce ministry remained unanswered at press time. Any adjustment on India's part would also take into account global price trends and the competitive landscape in key markets like the US, Japan, and the EU. However, if the deal is signed in time, these duties will be recalibrated according to the mutually agreed-upon terms. Shrimp is one of India's top seafood exports, with the US being its largest market. At present, Indian shrimp exports to the US face an effective customs duty of 17.7%, including 5.77% CVD and 1.8% ADD, and a 10% baseline tariff imposed by the US on 2 April. In exchange, India levies a 30% duty on US-origin Vannamei shrimp, also known as Pacific white shrimp. Competing countries, on the other hand, face significantly higher duties. For instance, Ecuador is subject to a CVD of 7.55%, while Vietnam faces a CVD of 2.84%. Although Vietnam's CVD is lower than India's, it is now also facing a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 35%, imposed in June 2025. Similarly, Thailand's CP Foods (Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL), one of the world's largest producers of feed and shrimp, has been hit with a preliminary ADD of 57.6%. In 2024-25, India exported marine products worth over $6 billion, with frozen shrimp accounting for a major share, according to data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)....