The US Department of Commerce (DOC) on January 18 received an anti-subsidy petition against frozen warm-water shrimp imported from Vietnam and six other countries, while representatives from the seven exporters said that there is insufficient evidence to prove their shrimp industries receive Government subsidies.
According to representatives from Vietnam, China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Ecuador, their shrimp industries enjoy natural advantages, standardised breeding and processing, and cheap labour.
They said the petition is actually to seek protection for the US shrimp industry, but will hit US consumers instead.
On January 15, representatives of the Vietnam Trade Office in Washington attended a meeting with DOC to object to allegations that Vietnam ’s frozen warm-water shrimp exported to the US receives Government subsidies.
In the petition, US businesses, including Carson & Co. Inc, Tidelands Seafood Co. Inc and Gulf Fish Inc, stated that frozen warm-water shrimp imported from the seven countries receive financial assistance from their Governments, “causing serious damage” to the US shrimp industry.
According to the petition, the seven countries received subsidies equalling 4.2 billion USD in 2011, to which Vietnam contributed 493 million USD.
The DOC is expected to announce its final decision in July after an investigation.-VNA
According to representatives from Vietnam, China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Ecuador, their shrimp industries enjoy natural advantages, standardised breeding and processing, and cheap labour.
They said the petition is actually to seek protection for the US shrimp industry, but will hit US consumers instead.
On January 15, representatives of the Vietnam Trade Office in Washington attended a meeting with DOC to object to allegations that Vietnam ’s frozen warm-water shrimp exported to the US receives Government subsidies.
In the petition, US businesses, including Carson & Co. Inc, Tidelands Seafood Co. Inc and Gulf Fish Inc, stated that frozen warm-water shrimp imported from the seven countries receive financial assistance from their Governments, “causing serious damage” to the US shrimp industry.
According to the petition, the seven countries received subsidies equalling 4.2 billion USD in 2011, to which Vietnam contributed 493 million USD.
The DOC is expected to announce its final decision in July after an investigation.-VNA
