Marine exporters lobby hard against US anti-dumping

The country's exporters to the US have decided to strongly put up their case before the US Commerce Department in its second anti-dumping review of shrimp exports for the February 2006-January 2007 period.

In a meeting in Vizag recently, 75 exporters have resolved to apply for the review and engage New Delhi-based law firm Lakshmi Kumaran & Sreedharan for presenting their case before the US authority.

The US department on February 1 initiated the process of the second administrative review of shrimp exporters to the US and the last date for filing application for the voluntary review is February 28. The department will shortlist only a few of the 75 exporters for the review. The US Federal Register has also already published the schedule of the review.

Unlike the earlier review, the second round will not allow out of court settlement with the petitioner Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) "� a domestic organisation of shrimp producers. Also, this time around the reduction in the duty will not be applicable to the companies who have sought out of court settlement.

The rate applicable to India was 10.17 per cent, and this was against a petition filed by SSA. The US department had imparted anti-dumping duty against a host of countries including Thailand, Brazil, Equador and China, besides India.

Meanwhile, the US Commerce Department has finalised its first administrative review of exporters from the country and a formal announcement would be made soon. According to leading marine exporters to the US, the duty might be reduced considerably as the mandatory respondents from the country are confident of doing a fair business with the US.

It is likely that the rate will be slashed to 7-9 per cent. For its first review the US department had shortlisted only three major companies as mandatory respondents "� Hindustan Lever, Liberty Group and Falcon Marine.

There will be five such reviews before the final decision on the imposition of anti-dumping duty is taken and the sunset review will be completed within five years.

The duty levy has reduced the country's shrimp exports to the US by 45 per cent in value terms, at Rs 889 crore, during April-December.

On the other hand, exports to the European Union rose to Rs 1,165 crore. During the nine-month period, the country exported 4,47,546 tonne of marine products valued at Rs 6,341 crore.