SEAI fears US anti-dumping duty, hires firm

In an effort to tackle the proposed anti-dumping duty on shrimp imports from India, the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) has hired a law firm in the US.

The move came after the US government had considered imposition of the anti-dumping duty on the Indian shrimp products.

The association fears huge loses, especially to the Andhra Pradesh shrimp exporters, should the US government go ahead with its decision.

Garvey Schubert and Barer will represent the association's case. It is learnt that SEAI will have to pay a whopping $ 1.5 million fee to the law firm.

"Of the Rs 2,100 crore worth marine exports during the last financial year, Andhra Pradesh exported 35 per cent to the US.The exports this year have already risen by 50 per cent. If the anti-dumping duty comes into effect at this juncture, the shrimp procurement prices in the state will fall drastically," said Kishore Kumar, the vice-president of SEAI's AP chapter.

"The Indian shrimp products are available at cheaper rates in the US markets than the latter's shrimp products. As the production cost is very high in US, the US shrimp producers, struggling for their survival, are putting pressure on the government to impose anti-dumping duty on the Indian shrimp products. The US government is reportedly considering this issue seriously, and is likely to impose the duty," Kumar informed.

"In order to protect the interests of the Indian shrimp farmers, SEAI has hired the law firm in US to defend our case if the US shrimp producers file a suit," he added.