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The US has extended for five years the anti-dumping duties on import of warm water shrimps from India, China, Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 5-1 on Tuesday to extend the current duties until 2016 on all these five countries.
“The ITC correctly recognised that the anti-dumping duty order is needed to give the shrimp industry in the Gulf of Mexico a chance to compete, survive and prosper,” said a welcome joint statement by three lawmakers from Mississippi, Senator Thad Cochran, Senator Roger Wicker and Congressman Steven Palazzo.
The Mississippi lawmakers, in communications with the ITC, have argued that the antidumping duties initially imposed in 2005 need to be continued to protect the Gulf Coast shrimp industry.
The Gulf Coast shrimp industry has been beset by a series of disasters, including hurricanes, the economic recession and the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The decision to continue antidumping orders on foreign shrimp is a significant victory not only for the Mississippi shrimping industry but also for American consumers,” said Mr Roger Wicker.
Mr Steven Palazzo said: “Our shrimp industry is an example of the resilience and determination expressed by all Mississippians in the wake of the BP oil spill.
Today’s decision means that our shrimpers can continue to recover unimpeded, resulting in more jobs and a stronger economy in Mississippi.”
Shrimp production in Mississippi totalled about 10 million pounds in 2009, a 26 percent increase when compared to 7.8 million pounds in 2005.
The 2009 season was valued at almost $13 million, and the industry had an estimated $115 million economic impact on the state.
Mr Cochran and Mr Wicker had appeared at an ITC hearing on February 1 to testify that the duties have been effective in fostering price stability and industry investment.
Mr Palazzo was one of four members of the House of Representatives who wrote to the ITC in late January to express their strong support for the continuation of the antidumping duty orders.
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