U.S. Imposes New Anti-Dumping Duties on Ecuadorian and Indonesian Shrimp

In a recent preliminary determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that shrimp producers in Ecuador and Indonesia will face new anti-dumping import duties. This ruling is part of two separate U.S. investigations into shrimp imports.

The investigations, launched late last year, found that exporters from Ecuador and Indonesia were selling their products at prices below fair market value. As a result, the DOC has imposed countervailing duties of 10.58% on shrimp exports from Ecuador and 6.3% on exports from Indonesia.

The duties vary for individual companies. In Ecuador, the National Society of Galapagos (Songa) will face a 10.58% duty, while Santa Priscila will only pay 1.54%. Indonesia's PT Bahari Makmur Sejati will be exempt from the anti-dumping tariff.

These preliminary determinations follow a previous March decision to impose countervailing duties on shrimp exports from Ecuador, India, and Vietnam. The DOC claimed these countries and certain companies received unfair government support when selling frozen warmwater shrimp in 2022.

The latest rulings stem from a petition filed in October 2023 by the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), requesting anti-dumping and countervailing duties on frozen shrimp imports from Ecuador, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam. The International Trade Commission voted in December 2023 to continue the investigations, finding evidence of injury to U.S. producers from the lower-priced foreign shrimp.

This escalating trade dispute highlights the complexities and tensions in the global shrimp market, as the U.S. seeks to protect its domestic industry from what it deems unfair competition. The final determinations are expected later this year, which may further impact trade flows and pricing dynamics in this vital seafood sector.