Indian shrimp exporters to U.S. hit by court decision
The U.S. Court of International Trade last week ruled that two of India’s biggest shrimp exporters to the United States would not receive roughly $15 million in duty rebates, Live Mint reported Wednesday,
The court essentially reversed a cut in antidumping duties enacted recently by the U.S. Commerce Department on shrimp exported from India from February 2006 to January 2007. The decision effects 68 shrimp exporters in all, but particularly Devi Sea Foods Ltd. and Falcon Marine Exports Ltd., the clear market share leaders.
The case was brought to CIT by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, which challenged Commerce’s reduction in antidumping duties. SSA represents the harvesters, processors and distributors of American wild caught shrimp from eight states along the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic.
“SSA had initiated antidumping proceedings in 2003 at CIT, arguing that India was selling its shrimp to the U.S. at a price lower than what it was charging from other countries,” the newspaper reported. “Following this, the Department of Commerce imposed a 10.17 percent anti-dumping duty on Indian shrimp in 2004. After the first review in 2007, the duty was reduced to 7.22 percent and in July 2008, after the second annual review, it was pared further.”
Executives with both Falcon and Devi indicated to Live Mint that they are planning to challenge the court’s decision.