November 2, 2006

India to make second request in WTO complaint against US shrimp duties

India would make a second request for the World Trade Organization to investigate US antidumping duties on shrimp, after the latter blocked its first request, Indian officials said Thursday (Nov 2).

Paven Kapoor, of India's mission to the WTO, said US rules requiring Indian shrimp exporters to take out a customs bond the equivalent of a year's worth of duties was unfair discrimination and violated WTO agreements.

The US blocked India's first request for the WTO to launch a formal investigation last week. Under WTO rules, an investigative panel is automatically established with the second request.

The WTO already is investigating similar complaints from Ecuador and Thailand against the US. Formal investigations has already been opened in Thailand's case as it has waited the mandatory one month period to file its second request after the US blocked its first request.

The US also applies antidumping duties on shrimp from Brazil, China and Vietnam.