August 4, 2003

Asian Shrimp Exporters Working Together To Counter Possible Dumping Lawsuit From US Farmers

Shrimp exporters from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand and Vietnam have been accused by a group of US shrimp farmers of price dumping.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance, formed by shrimp farmers in eight U.S. southern and eastern states, is likely to sue shrimp exporters from these six countries.

Vietnam's deputy fisheries minister, Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, said Vietnamese shrimp exporters and their counterparts in ASEAN, India and China, as well as U.S. shrimp importers are considering measures to reverse possible accusations of dumping. The measures may include lobbying to prevent such a lawsuit.

He added that shrimp exports to the U.S., its biggest market, accounted for half of Vietnam's seafood export revenue and that losing any such lawsuit will be detrimental to the entire fisheries industry.

Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US in 2002 were valued at US$481 million, according to the USDA.