U.S. to proceed with shrimp dumping investigation

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to proceed with claim against shrimp dumping from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam

February 18, 2004

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp and prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

As a result the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations with its preliminary antidumping determination due on or about June 8, 2004.

For purposes of these investigations, the products covered are described as "certain warmwater shrimp and prawns, whether frozen or canned, wild-caught (ocean harvested) or farm-raised (produced by aquaculture), head-on or head-off, shell-on or peeled, tail-on or tail-off, deveined or not deveined, cooked or raw, or otherwise processed in frozen or canned form". The products described above may be from any species of warmwater shrimp and prawns, which are generally classified in, but not limited to, the Penaeidae family.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. firms (processors) in 2003: 42.
2. Production during 2003: 169,737,000 pounds.
3. Employment of production and related workers (processors): 2,124.
4. U.S. apparent consumption during 2003: 1,047,591,000 pounds.
5. Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption
during 2003: 86.7 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports during 2003: 649,680,000 pounds.
2. Value of subject imports during 2003: $2,432,553,000.

The Commission's public report Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp and Prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1063-1068 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3672, February 2004) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after March 16, 2004, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.