ITC votes to continue cases on certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp and prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand and Vietnam

February 17, 2004, News Release 04-017, Inv. No. 731-TA-1063-1068 (P)

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp and prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp and prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, with its preliminary antidumping determination due on or about June 8, 2004.

The Commission's public report Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp and Prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1063-1068 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3672, February 2004) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after March 16, 2004, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Certain Frozen or Canned Warmwater Shrimp and Prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1063-1068 (Preliminary)

Product Description: For purposes of these investigations, the products covered are certain warmwater shrimp and prawns, whether frozen or canned, wild-caught (ocean harvested) or farm-raised (produced by aquaculture), head-on or head-off, shell-on or peeled, tail-on or tail-off, deveined or not deveined, cooked or raw, or otherwise processed in frozen or canned form. The products described above may be from any species of warmwater shrimp and prawns, which are generally classified in, but not limited to, the Penaeidae family. The predominant end-use for warmwater shrimp and prawns is human consumption. The merchandise subject to this investigation is provided for in subheadings 0306.13.00.03, 0306.13.00.06, 0306.13.00.09, 0306.13.00.12, 0306.13.00.15, 0306.13.00.18, 0306.13.00.21, 0306.13.00.24, 0306.13.00.27, 0306.13.00.40, 1605.20.10.10, 1605.20.10.30, and 1605.20.10.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary antidumping.
2. Petitioners: Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee.
3. Investigation instituted by USITC: December 31, 2003.
4. Conference: January 21, 2004.
5. USITC vote: February 17, 2004.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce: February 17, 2004.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. firms (processors) in 2003: 42.
2. Production during 2003: 169,737,000 pounds.
3. Employment of production and related workers (processors): 2,124.
4. U.S. apparent consumption during 2003: 1,047,591,000 pounds.
5. Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption
during 2003: 86.7 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports during 2003: 649,680,000 pounds.
2. Value of subject imports during 2003: $2,432,553,000.