Harrison lands task force appointment
March 23, 2011
Louise Stapler
March 25, 2011
Louisiana shrimpers were offered symbolic support on the open market last Tuesday when the International Trade Commission decided that revoking an existing anti-dumping duty on warm water shrimp from South America, Southeast Asia and South Central Asia would injure the U.S. shrimp industry.
As a result, existing orders on frozen imports will remain in place for another five years.
In April 2010, the ITC had voted to conduct full reviews for a measure that specifically targeted shrimp being dumped on the U.S. wholesale grocery market from the countries of Brazil, China, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
American fishermen had previously argued that these countries had been exporting to the U.S. inferior product at reduced rates and as a result cutting domestic shrimpers out of the market.
“It helps keep them at bay,” said Mariah Jade Shrimp Co. owner Kimberly Chauvin of the extended order. The shortcoming according this regional shrimp professional, is that those fishermen already harmed will not be able to recoup their losses.
Chauvin said that while the extended order helped local shrimpers have a place on the market, the costs of litigation to protect them from imports were costly to organizations such as the Louisiana Shrimp Producers Association and the American Shrimp Producers Association and each organization’s membership. “It is quite costly. You are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees [to protect a local business] and you can’t recoup any of it,” she said.
ASPA Executive Director David Veal praised the ITC for its support. “The fact that foreign dumping will continue to be addressed means that shrimp harvesters and processors will continue to create new jobs in the Gulf,” Veal said.
“Before imposing the antidumping orders in 2005, individual shrimp fishermen and processors were struggling to survive,” said ASPA legal counsel Eddy Hayes. “After overcoming two major hurricanes and a massive oil spill, the decision gives this vital Gulf industry a chance to survive over the long term.”
“Even though this is a great turn of events, the problem is still about the U.S. subsidizing these countries,” Chauvin said. “On a usual year [this ban on dumping] means you are going to be somewhere on an even keel. It’s not about recreating the wheel, just about changing a few spokes on the wheel. We will still have issues. This is not a normal year because BP has devastated the commercial fishing industry in a whole new way.”
Since the original anti-dumping orders were imposed, imports of shrimp dropped 20 percent. Domestic shrimpers, processors and distributors were able to increase productivity, wages and revenue, according to the ASPA.
As the official shrimp season approaches, many area fishermen are taking a wait and see approach on how the ITC move might impact their businesses.
Shrimpers are making their way into a new season knowing that a ban on the dumping of frozen shrimp from foreign markets into the U.S. economy will help level the market for Gulf Coast fishermen working to restore their industry. MIKE NIXON
