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US - Trade commission votes to proceed with investigation into shrimp imports

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of frozen warmwater shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam that are allegedly subsidized. As a result of the Commission\\\\\\\'s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about March 25, 2013.
February 7, 2013

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of frozen warmwater shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam that are allegedly subsidized. As a result of the Commission\'s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about March 25, 2013.

The Commission\'s public report Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-491-497 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4380, February 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations. Copies of the report are expected to be available after March 11, 2013, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling  202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to  202-205-2104.

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam Investigation Nos. 701-TA-491-497 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Certain frozen warmwater shrimp and prawns, whether 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 form, regardless of size. The products described may be processed from any species of warmwater shrimp and prawns. Frozen shrimp and prawns that are packed with marinade, spices or sauce are included in the scope. In addition, food preparations (including dusted shrimp), which are not \"prepared meals,\" that contain more than 20 percent by weight of shrimp or prawn are also included in the scope. Excluded from the scope are: (1) breaded shrimp and prawns; (2) shrimp and prawns generally classified in the Pandalidae family and commonly referred to as coldwater shrimp, in any state of processing; (3) fresh shrimp and prawns whether shell-on or peeled; (4) shrimp and prawns in prepared meals; (5) dried shrimp and prawns; (6) canned warmwater shrimp and prawns; and (7) certain \"battered shrimp.\" The predominant end-use for warmwater shrimp and prawns is human consumption.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigations:  Preliminary countervailing duty.

2. Petitioner:  Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries, Biloxi, MS.

3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  December 28, 2012.

4. Commission\\\\\\\'s conference:  January 18, 2013.

5. USITC vote:  February 7, 2013.

6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  February 11, 2013.

7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  February 19, 2013.

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of producers (processors) in 2011:  58.

2. Location of producers\' plants:  Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas.

3. Employment of production and related workers in 2011:  1,922.

4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2011:  1.3 billion pounds.

5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2011:  87.6 percent.

U.S. Imports:

1. From the subject countries during 2011:  $4.3 billion (86 percent of total U.S. import value).

2. From other countries during 2011:  $681.6 million (14 percent of total U.S. import value).

3. Leading sources during 2011:  Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, India, Vietnam, Mexico, Malaysia, China (in terms of total value).