Kochi, Feb. 12 The US Department of Commerce has announced launching the Fifth Administrative Review on shrimp imports from India, China, Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam. The review is to decide whether the anti-dumping duty imposed on shrimp imports by the US should end or continue.
Indian shrimp exporters who want to participate in the review are required to file petitions before the US Assistant Secretary for Import Administration before March 1, 2010. The voluntary review applications are to be filed by Indian exporters who have exported shrimp to the US during the last year. A copy of the review application is also to be submitted to the office of antidumping, countervailing operations in the US.
Being the final review, several Indian exporters expect it to be a difficult process.
The process will also decide the extent to which antidumping duties will have to be imposed on Indian shrimp exports to the US.
Low level
The duties are already at low levels of 0.79 per cent after the Third Administrative Review. Even if the antidumping duties are not wiped out during the review, the exporters want the rates to remain at the current low levels. While the rates by itself are not destructive, it is the annual bonds that aaree proving to be a greater burden on the exporters.
Every year, the exporters have to deposit bonds upfront as guarantee before the US Customs against higher levels of duties being imposed for the year. The Administrative Review would be conducted in the succeeding year, which would take the final call on the rates for the previous year.
The exporters are perturbed by the outstanding bonds of $50 million that are still to be returned to Indian exporters even after the end of review period.
Sunset review
Meanwhile, exporters who account for more than 50 per cent of Indian shrimp exports to the US during the past four years are participating in the sunset review.
This process would decide whether antidumping duties should continue or not, the Seafood Exporters Association of India said.
Their responses have been filed with the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission.
Going by trends, the exporters are keeping their fingers crossed on the outcome of the sunset review.
Source : Business Line