The Southeast USA Shrimp Industry: Issues Related to Trade and Antidumping Duties

On December 31, 2003 a coalition representing Southeast U.S.A. shrimp harvesters and processors filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade Administration and the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking relief in the form of antidumping ditties from what the coalition perceived as unfair trade practices by, six countries-China, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Ecuador, and Brazil. After an exhaustive investigation, an affirmative finding of dumping and injury was found, and duties were imposed on subject merchandise from these six countries. This study examines the factors that led to the petition being filed, the investigation process, and the outcome associated with the imposition of antidumping duties. Overall, the study concludes that while the duties resulted in a limited amount of trade deflection, particularly among those countries assessed with higher ditties, much of the protective effect that might have been forthcoming front restricting imports from the six named countries was eroded by trade diversion to countries not included in the petition.