August 1, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Commerce recently released preliminary determinations for the six countries that have been identified as having dumped shrimp into the U.S. marketplace at artificially low prices. It has been determined that this “dumping” has significantly hurt the domestic shrimp industry. The following countries will be imposed with tariffs on any canned and frozen warm water shrimp that is imported into the U.S.:
Country
Average Rate (%)
China
112.81
Brazil
7.09
Vietnam
4.03
India
13.42
Ecuador
3.58 Empacadora Gran Mar SA
Thailand
5.95 C.P. Foods Thailand
The tariff-imposed countries are nearly unanimous in their claims that these tariffs are unfair. They state that their countries benefit from lower labor costs and a temperate climate filled with nearly year-round sunshine that enhances near-perfect shrimp growing conditions. As a result, they conclude, they should not be penalized.
