Shrimp claims over the top

News 09:31 25/02/2013 496
The US shrimp industry seems to operate under the following theory _ if they do the same thing, over and over, the result will eventually be pleasantly rewarding. Twice since 2004, the industry has pressured trade officials to investigate the "dumping" of frozen shrimp from Thailand, the biggest supplier of shrimp to the US. Twice they were defeated. But the persistent protectionists are at it again, hoping once again for a different result and a better life financed by huge fines against Thailand.

 In 2006, as part of preparations for the most recent dumping lawsuit against Thailand, the US passed the Byrd Amendment. It is fittingly named for its sponsor, the late US Sen Robert Byrd. Byrd was once a community leader of the Ku Klux Klan and never known for his friendliness to foreigners. His provision allows the US International Trade Commission to compare the price of Thai shrimp in markets in the US and Japan.

Shrimp is big business around the world, but especially so between Thailand and the US. Thailand supplies more than a quarter of all shrimp eaten by Americans. They bring well over US$1 billion (29.7 billion baht) a year to Thai exporters. The Office of Commercial Affairs of the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington said last week that from January to October last year the US imported $973 million worth of shrimp from Thailand _ just short of 29 billion baht. That is twice as much as Indonesia, Ecuador and India sell.

Thai shrimp imports are an attractive target in the litigious US for several reasons. The US shrimp industry is legitimately hurting, because imported shrimp is cheaper than most US shrimp. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 decimated shrimp fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmentalists love the lawsuits against Thai shrimp because they can slip in references to Thai farms which harm coastal forests. Human rights groups add allegations of child labour in the packing process.

The bottom line, however, is that it is pretty well all about the money. If the US government lawsuit succeeds, Thai exporters will be slapped with so-called "countervailing duties" _ essentially, fines for selling better products at a cheaper price. These fines should end up in the pockets of US shrimpers, who are allegedly hurt by the Thai exporters' success.

International trade disputes are common, and often understandable. Globalisation has brought hardship to local industries in virtually every country. But after three disputes in eight years, the US lawsuits against Thai shrimp exporters are looking more like harassment than legitimate complaints.

The huge volume of Thai shrimp imported by the US over the past decade has made dumping charges illogical. No industry could accept such losses for such a long time. It must be hoped the US will wrap up this latest investigation quickly and get back to dining on delicious Thai shrimp.

Bạn đang đọc bài viết Shrimp claims over the top tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Strengthen control over fishing vessels and trace the origin of harvested seafood.

 |  09:34 21/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.

Tilapia Exports Surge but Begin to Slow in June

 |  14:45 20/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.

Sa Giang Honored with "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" Certification

 |  14:48 18/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).

China has become the largest importer of Vietnamese seafood.

 |  12:47 17/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.

International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program at Vietfish 2026: Connecting Global Buyers with Vietnam's Value-Added Seafood Supply Hub

 |  17:35 16/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.

Sustainable seafood solutions: ESG vision & net zero commitment at Vietfish 2026

 |  08:45 16/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.

Pangasius industry shifts from volume growth to value creation

 |  10:21 14/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.

Vietnamese tuna maintains momentum in Sweden, but the market Is becoming more unpredictable

 |  08:55 12/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.

China’s rising shrimp imports: Expanding opportunities amid intensifying competition

 |  08:56 10/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.

Lobster is on its way to becoming a billion-dollar commodity.

 |  08:18 08/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC