India wants US to effect WTO ruling on shrimp exports soon

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) India wants the United States to abide by a World Trade Organisation ruling in the "shortest possible time" to end an anti-dumping measure that has put a financial burden on the Indian shrimp industry.

W.T.O.'s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) had ruled in August this year that the U.S. 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 D.S.B. ruling, the U.S. has declared it would need a "reasonable period of time (RPT)" for the corrective steps.

"India is disappointed at the U.S. 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 said
it would hold talks with the U.S. 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 percent in
value terms. Shrimp exports declined in 2006-07 to 137,397
tons from 145,180 tons.

Shipments to the U.S. dropped sharply by 37 percent in
2006-07 to USD 99.28 million from USD 158.12 million in the
previous fiscal.

"Although the US has decreased its anti-dumping duty to
1.69 percent from 14 percent on shrimp exports, we want it to
be brought down to zero," Sea Food Exporters Association of
India President Anwar Hashim said.

The U.S. is the largest market for Indian shrimps
followed by Japan, he said. PTI RR