Date:19/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/08/19/stories/2005081900961200.htm

Back Shrimp dumping duty: US team to review changed circumstances

Our Bureau

Kochi , Aug 18

THE five-member team from the US International Trade Commission (ITC) is to land in Chennai on Friday and begin a six-day "Changed Circumstances Review" to assess the impact and destruction caused by the December 26 tsunami.

Based on the report of the team, ITC will decide whether to continue with the anti-dumping duties imposed on Indian shrimp in the US, withdraw it altogether or reduce it. Shrimp from India and Thailand now attract 10.2 per cent and 6.01 per cent anti-dumping duty in the US markets.

The team is expected to meet the representatives of the shrimp farmers association, fishermen's association, shrimp hatcheries association and the President of the Seafood Exporters Association in Chennai on Saturday. Later, the team is expected to visit the coastal districts of Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kakinada and so on to assess the tsunami impacts first-hand.

When contacted, the Seafood Exporters Association of India said neither the Government nor the industry had been given information about the members of the visiting team or their detailed itinerary in India. The team is scheduled to go back on August 25 and submit its report to ITC. With a time-schedule of six months from the date of taking up the review, the Commission is supposed to submit its final report and recommendation of the Indian shrimp anti-dumping duty on October 31.