SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – The International Trade Commission has ruled in favor of America’s shrimping industry, stating that an influx of frozen imported shrimp has harmed the domestic industry.
On Tuesday, the ITC Commissioners voted unanimously that frozen imported shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam have caused harm to the U.S. shrimping industry.
Now, the Department of Commerce is set to impose tariffs on the product, something that’s meant to level the playing field for local shrimpers.
“This is great news for the industry, but I wouldn’t say it’s unexpected. The industry has been struggling for a long time,” said Jennifer Smith-Veluz, lead council for the U.S. Shrimpers Coalition.
Shrimpers have struggled to keep up with low prices for their product after the U.S. imported a record of more than 1.8 billion pounds of foreign shrimp in 2021.
The ITC began investigating unfair trade practices last year.
Jennifer Smith-Veluz represents the U.S. Shrimpers Coalition, a party involved in the investigation.
“These unfairly traded imports have come in at unfairly low prices because of practices that foreign countries are engaging in,” said Smith-Veluz.
Now, the Department of Commerce will impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on shrimp imports from four countries.
Anti-dumping duties are a tariff placed on goods that are priced less than fair value. This will be applied to shrimp imported from Indonesia.
Countervailing duties are placed on goods that are subsidized by foreign governments. This will apply to shrimp imports from Ecuador, India, and Vietnam.
“The hope is that the increased cost will reflect the unfair trade practices and counteract the unfair trade practices, so they will now be priced as they should be to be competing fairly with U.S. domestic shrimp,” said Smith-Veluz.
For the consumer, this means the price for frozen imported shrimp will likely go up. Smith-Veluz says at this time, it’s too soon to tell just how much.
“It may not be a lot, given what the current rates are, but it’s likely to increase somewhat,” said Smith-Veluz.
It’s something local leaders are calling a win for local shrimpers.
“I am encouraged to see ITC support domestic shrimping and will continue promoting policies that support this key industry, particularly for Georgia’s world-class shrimpers,” said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA).
The Georgia Commercial Fisherman’s Association agrees, calling the ruling a “win for fairness and sustainability” in a statement to WTOC.
The ITC is expected to issue their final report on the matter in January.
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