December 29, 2004

India Seafood Exporters To Challenge US Shrimp Duties

Terming it as ''irritant and totally unwarranted,'' the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) has condemned the anti-dumping duty on shrimp exports imposed by the United States in its final determination in the ongoing case recently.

The Association has also decided to go in for a final appeal to the Court of International Trade against the anti-dumping duty and wanted the Centre to take up the issue at the WTO.

The imposition of duty on imported shrimp would in no way help protect, revive or restructure the US shrimp industry, SEAI President A.J. Tharakan said.

The US Department of Commerce has initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping of shrimp into the US by India and five other countries on January 21, 2004. In the preliminary determination on July 29, the department slapped duty at 14.20 per cent on shrimp exported from India.