December 9, 2005

US requests Indonesian help in monitoring shrimp exports
 

Dave William, US Vice Consul for Economic and Business Affairs in Surabaya, has requested for help from the East Java Association of Indonesian Exporters (GPEI) to assist in monitoring shrimp exports from the region to America. This was due to suspicions the shrimp might have originated from China on which the US has imposed an anti-dumping import duty.

GPEI chief Isdarmawan Asrikan said based on the suspicions, the US has threatened to reject Indonesian shrimp exports, or impose a punitive duty of about 112 percent on the country's shrimp.

The US suspected that Indonesian exporters were involved in trans-shipment of shrimp and used fake country of origin certificates.

In light of that, William has asked the GPEI to help monitor the exports and verify their country of origin, Asrikan said.

Meanwhile, head of the Association of Indonesian Cold Storage Operators (ACPI) Johan Suryadharma, has appealed to the Indonesian government to explain to the US that the alleged practices were untrue.

Suryadharma added that East Java had never exported shrimp from China as the Indonesian ban on shrimp imports was still in place.