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Indian black tiger shrimp. (Photo: K L Constantine, FIS)
DOC cuts duties on Indian shrimp; China appeals to WTO
(INDIA, 3/4/2011)
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) said it has cut the anti-dumping duty on Indian shrimp imports to 1.69 per cent. Meanwhile, China has initiated World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute proceedings over the US’s anti-dumping duties on Chinese shrimp.
The preliminary results of the Fifth Administrative Review on anti-dumping duties on this import ran a thorough analysis of the performance of Falcon Marine Exports and Apex Exports and in the interim imposed a 1.36 and 2.31 per cent duty, respectively, for these respondents.
“The slashing of anti-dumping duty from 2.67 per cent to 1.69 per cent is a welcome step and would galvanise Indian seafood exports substantially,” the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) stated.
Lower anti-dumping duties have recently boosted Indian shrimp exports to the US, a destination now the second biggest after the European Union (EU). Indian shrimp exports skyrocketed by 88 per cent in volume and 149 per cent in value in April-December, letting shrimp make up more than 48 per cent of the total marine export earnings, reports Hindu Business Line.
Seafood exports to the US soared by nearly 50 per cent in volume and 110 per cent in value. Exports to the EU, India’s main destination, fell by almost 5 per cent in quantity during the first nine months of this fiscal year.
Now, Indian exporters are mostly concerned about the cyclical requirement to execute bonds with US Customs before the exporters can be effected, SEAI noted.
It takes three years for the bonds to be liquidated, such that Indian exporters will constantly have an outstanding of three bonds with US customs, with the cumulative staying over USD 100 million, SEAI told. The bonds are permanent hindrance to small exporters.
Meanwhile, China is taking action against what it considers zeroing in by the US.
In December, DOC proposed ending zeroing in annual reviews of existing anti-dumping measures to avoid retaliation from key trading partners. The proposal, which remains open for public comment, has attracted resentment from some lawmakers and industry officials, reports the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).
China is contesting US anti-dumping duties dating back to 2005. They were first fixed at 27-82 per cent but then fell to 5-8 per cent after Beijing appealed to the US International Trade Commission (USITC) and won.
But still China’s Ministry of Commerce claims the levies violate WTO rules and are harming the interests of Chinese shrimp producers.
The USITC will vote in April regarding whether to extend its duties on shrimp imports for another five years.
Last month, it held a hearing to decide if the national shrimp industry merited protection through antidumping duties on shrimp imports due to last year’s BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and recurring hurricanes.
Related articles:
- Testimony given to keep antidumping duties on shrimp imports
- Shrimp exporters appeal to WTO over new US tariffs
- US anti-dumping duty stands
By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
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