India wants the United States to abide by a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in the "shortest possible time" to end an anti-dumping measure that has put a financial burden on the Indian shrimp industry.
WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) had ruled in August this year that the US measure, requiring importers of warm-water shrimp to deposit cash and customs bond equal to the margin of dumping that may exist in investigation, was illegal and violative of the international trade practices.
Announcing its intention to implement the DSB ruling, the US has declared it would need a "reasonable period of time (RPT)" for the corrective steps.
"India is disappointed at the US request for RPT, as the Indian shrimp industry continues to face an enormous burden on its exports due to the US anti-dumping measure," a WTO statement said.
Thailand, which is also a party to the dispute, has saidit would hold talks with the US soon for an RPT to ensure prompt implementation of the WTO ruling.
Of India's total shipment of marine products, frozen shrimp is the largest export item, constituting 54 per cent in value terms.
Shrimp exports declined in 2006-07 to 137,397 tonnes from 145,180 tonnes.
Shipments to the US dropped sharply by 37 per cent in 2006-07 to $99.28 million from $158.12 million in the previous fiscal.
"Although the US has decreased its anti-dumping duty to 1.69 per cent from 14 per cent on shrimp exports, we want it to be brought down to zero," Sea Food Exporters Association of India President Anwar Hashim said.
The US is the largest market for Indian shrimps followed by Japan, he said.
