The Hindu Business Line : US dumping suit: Shrimp exporters expect lower levy

WITH an imminent ruling expected on the anti-dumping suit on Indian shrimp exports to the US, the seafood export community in the country is keeping its fingers crossed.

Mr G. Mohan Kumar, Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority told Business Line: "If at all there is any duty, we expect a very low rate as was the case with Vietnam. This, the Indian industry would be in a better position to absorb and it is not likely to have much of a cascading impact on a retrospective scale." The duty would be with retrospective effect from the date from which the anti-dumping suit was initiated.

At its last ruling on the anti-dumping suit against China and Vietnam, the US Department of Commerce recommended a weighted average rate of 16 per cent duty for shrimp imports from Vietnam, while imposing considerably higher levels for China.

While hoping that there would be no duty, sources in the Seafood Exporters Association of India said: "Going by the figures and case studies provided by the three Indian seafood exporting companies under US scrutiny, the imposition of duty should be at very low levels, even lower than those recommended for Vietnam."

However, to forestall any unforeseen eventuality, SEAI is also initiating preventive steps. "We will be organising a seminar at Visakhapatnam on July 30 to assess the implications of the US ruling and deliberate on the future course of action to be taken," SEAI sources said. There is no way that the Indian seafood industry can afford to overlook the critical US markets.

In recent years, it has become the most important market for Indian marine exports, accounting for 26.5 per cent of the total marine shipments. And, even in shrimp exports, the US remains a very significant market. Earlier, it was the biggest market for Indian captured shrimp. However in recent years, Indian cultured shrimp have also been finding the US market a lucrative destination.

The threat of retrospective effect on duties has already smothered marine exports to the US. The export community were hoping for a low rate if at all, so that exports will not only be revived, but the burden of retrospective effect will also be reduced.

More Stories on : Aquaculture | Anti-dumping

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Monsoon hits central parts, revives hopes

US dumping suit: Shrimp exporters expect lower levy

Farm risk management — Solution in search of problems

Rubber unchanged; latex declines

Tata Tea keeps its options open on plantations

Coonoor tea prices up

`Get the milk flowing into the neighbours'

STCL to set up pepper processing plant in Kodagu

Pepper market down on selling pressure

India takes tough stance in WTO farm talks

Swaminathan calls for rapid progress in agriculture

National meet on rice in Delhi

Kerala Cabinet to discuss Chittur sugar mill revival plan soon