“I will not stop fighting for Louisiana agriculture. If I had full control, I’d stop all or most imported seafood and rice.”
I will not stop fighting for Louisiana agriculture, and if I had full control, I would stop all or most imported seafood and rice.
Occurrences
urging a Section 301 investigation into unfair practices affecting trade in seafood products
Evidence
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Clay Higgins is a cosponsor of H.R. 2071, which was reported in the House on March 25, 2026. The bill would prohibit federal funds from supporting international financial institutions for foreign shrimp farms.
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In House floor remarks, Higgins said he was glad USDA had established a new Office of Seafood to better support the seafood industry and help enable the administration's America First seafood strategy.
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Higgins said H.R. 2071 had passed the House and described it as ending U.S. taxpayer subsidization of foreign seafood production through international financial institutions; he also stated he would stop most imported seafood and rice if he had full control.
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The order states that nearly 90 percent of seafood on U.S. shelves is imported and directs trade enforcement, import monitoring improvements, and a seafood trade strategy rather than a broad import ban.
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Higgins and Carter urged USTR to start a Section 301 investigation into unfair practices across the seafood supply chain, naming multiple exporting countries and practices such as false labeling, subsidies, and labor abuses.
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After a U.S.-India trade framework included lower tariffs on Indian seafood, Higgins asked for inspections, duty enforcement, safeguards, and support for H.R. 2715 to protect domestic shrimpers.
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USDA ERS says the United States is the largest rice importer in the Western Hemisphere, importing around 1.3 million tons, and that imports exceeded one-quarter of the domestic market by 2022/23.
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Higgins and Letlow asked President Trump for tariffs on rice imports from India, Thailand, China, Pakistan, and Vietnam, citing record 2024 foreign rice imports and pressure on U.S. mills.
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Higgins supported Trump tariffs and said he had encouraged significant tariffs on imported seafood and rice; the listed measures included a 10 percent baseline tariff and country-specific rates.
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Higgins and Carter introduced H.R. 2715 to let FDA destroy imported food products that fail inspection, with Higgins saying large volumes of uninspected seafood continued entering the country.
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Higgins' seafood issue page says foreign competition is allowed by the free market while illegal dumping and subsidized imports should be addressed through fair-play and safety enforcement.
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The reported House bill would restrict federal support for international financial institutions involved with foreign shrimp farming, processing, or shrimp exports to the United States.
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For 2026/27, U.S. imports are unchanged from last month at 49.8 million cwt, reflecting a 16-percent rebound
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Congressman Higgins and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) introduced the legislation in April 2025. The bill would authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to destroy imported products that pose significant health risks.
Assessments
Higgins took concrete same-term federal actions supporting Louisiana seafood and rice producers, including cosponsoring and advancing shrimp-related legislation, seeking seafood trade investigations and enforcement, and advocating tariffs on imported rice and seafood. Those actions show he continued fighting for Louisiana agriculture and partially advanced the policy direction. However, they did not stop all or most imported seafood or rice; seafood imports remained dominant, rice imports remained substantial, and the cited measures were tariffs, inspections, financing limits, and enforcement rather than broad import stoppages.
Higgins made concrete same-term efforts for Louisiana seafood producers, including cosponsoring the Save Our Shrimpers Act and advocating tougher treatment of foreign seafood imports. Those actions materially align with part of the promise, but they did not deliver the promised outcome of stopping all or most imported seafood, and the record provided shows no comparable rice-import restriction. Because the promised import stoppage was not achieved despite serious legislative and advocacy efforts, this is best scored as not delivered with an effort badge.