August 17, 2005

US considers lifting India's shrimp import tariffs

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) will visit India Aug 18 to determine if punitive tariffs imposed on Indian shrimp imports should be revoked after last December's tsunami, the Indian government announced Aug 15.

The tariffs were placed to protect US shrimp producers from what was claimed as unfair competition.

Indian shrimp producers are now hoping to convince the four-member ITC team that they are not a threat to the US shrimp industry as the tsunami has destroyed their resources, said Seafood Exporters Association of India president Abraham J. Tharakan.

The weeklong visit is part of an ongoing review by ITC on the January decision by the US Commerce Department, which imposed punitive tariffs ranging from 5-16 percent on shrimp shipments from six countries, including India.