March 30, 2007

Vietnam shrimp exporters exempted on antidumping charges
 

The US Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) has decided to stay away on the investigation of 410 shrimp exporters from six different countries which were defendants in the anti-dumping lawsuits, during the second administrative review.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has quoted Seafood.com as saying that SSA, the plaintiff in the anti-dumping lawsuit, had suggested the exemption of 410 shrimp producers and exporters from investigation.

The move is in response to the preliminary result of the first administrative review announced by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) in March 2007, which was beneficial to SSA. Under the preliminary result, shrimp exporters from six countries would still be imposed with anti-dumping taxes when exporting products to the US.

The 410 companies, including the ones who refused the review ahead of the schedule last January 28 this year would enjoy the review exemption. Currently, exporting countries have been imposed with high taxes such as Brazil with 349 percent, China, 112.81 percent; Ecuador, 48.61 percent; India, 82.30 percent and Thailand, 57.64 percent.

Indian agencies have previously stated that the country had succeeded in its protest against the anti-dumping taxation on shrimp products at the US Court of International Trade (CIT).

India, which has been violently protesting the bond-paying regime, said that paying bonds must not be seen as the measure to ensure tax payments as tax payments could be guaranteed with the security.

The success has prompted India to lodge its protest against the bond-paying regime with the WTO and is waiting for the decision.

DOC has also decided to lower the tax rates on tra and basa fillet products made by Dong Thap-based QVD Food Company Ltd to 21.23 percent from the previously applied rates of 66.34 percent.

These are the final results of the second administrative review conducted by DOC. The tax rates applied on other Vietnamese tra and basa exporters remain at high levels at 66.34 percent while Vietnamese exporter Cataco is still taxed 80.88 percent.