If before the tariff, for a pound of shrimp size 41/50 (number of copies) received USD 4.85, after the payment was diminished by 4.10.
In Ecuador, the tension in the shrimp sector over the countervailing duty case that began nine months ago in the U.S., ended Friday, with a favorable decision for Ecuador. The International Trade Commission ruled that U.S. industry is neither materially injured nor threatened by imports of frozen shrimp from Ecuador and four other countries. Thus, the aquaculture sector does not have to pay an average tariff, at national level, of 11.68% to enter that market.
That rate was set on 13 August by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which listened to the Coalition of Industries Gulf Shrimp and it came into force six days later. This organization last December sued several countries, including Ecuador, for alleged state subsidies in shrimp production practice that would disadvantage the American producers.
If their attempt had not ended in failure, the punishment would have meant $ 60 million annually in special tribute. Throughout the defense led by the national government and private sector, Ecuador claimed that there are no subsidies.
"The opinion of the International Trade Commission corrects an injustice committed against our country to apply a tariff of nearly 12% of our exports, "said the president of the National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA), José Antonio Camposano.
The resolution was initially broadcast by Ecuador's ambassador in Washington, Nathalie Cely, on her twitter feed, who promoted the defense through videos on the socio-economic contribution of the sector. The ruling was received amid an uproar by crustacean producers, who are about to complete the third harvest since the anti-subsidy tariff came into force.
The harvesting of shellfish grown in ponds, is made in seasons. The last began last Tuesday and this will last until tomorrow. "We work amid high expectations, with the uncertainty of the final resolution of the lawsuit. But we won," said Wilson Gomez, Hualtaco Shrimp Association, the province of El Oro.
The next step is to convene a meeting of the shrimp chain, to make possible the return monies to the producers extended by the tariff. According to Gomez, packers deducted $ 0.75 per pound. That is, if before the tariff, for a pound of shrimp size 41/50 (number of copies) received USD 4.85, after the payment was diminished by 4.10.