Lott says he backs struggling shrimper' petition for trade restrictions
Associated Press (01/03/2004)

JACKSON, Miss. - American shrimpers deserve some protection from imports of farm-raised shrimp that are being dumped onto the market, U.S. Sen. Trent Lott said Saturday.

After enduring years of plummeting prices, the U.S. Southern Shrimp Alliance filed the antidumping petition Dec. 31 with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission against Thailand, China, Vietnam, India, Brazil and Ecuador.

The eight-state group made up of shrimpers and processors from South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states.

Lott, R-Miss., said the government must "take bold steps to ensure that free trade is fair trade."

Lott said the dumping of the farm-raised shrimp on the American market is "causing the loss of jobs and raising health and safety issues with the products they are sending here."

Lott said he expected the Bush administration to take the complaint seriously.

Asian shrimp exporters said the antidumping petition is an example of blatant protectionism - and vowed to fight to keep overseas shrimp on American dinner plates.

The alliance claims those countries have dumped shrimp on the U.S. market at unfairly low prices, crippling their industry in the United States. They want the government to impose tariffs on imported shrimp.

Exporters from the targeted Asian countries - representing three of the biggest exporters of shrimp to the United States - argue they've done nothing wrong, and say the suit is just an example of Americans ignoring free trade to protect their own interests.

A ruling on the petition is expected by mid-February.

The alliance claims the value of the U.S. shrimp harvest dropped by more than half between 2000 and 2002 - from $1.25 billion to $560 million - and that there was a 40 percent drop in employment at Southern shrimp factories.

The European Union and Japan have recently clamped down on shrimp imports because of concerns about antibiotics in farm-raised shrimp, forcing more exporters into the American market at lower prices. The alliance claims American imports are not held to the same health and safety standards as domestic shrimp.

Seafood exporters in Asia are trying to form an alliance to fight the suit, and the Indian government will be asked to help, said Abraham Tharakan, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India.