THAI SHRIMP INDUSTRY ASKS FOR AD RELIEF

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001899

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS FOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT PASS FOR USTR/AUSTR WEISEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD TH
SUBJECT: THAI SHRIMP INDUSTRY ASKS FOR AD RELIEF


1. On March 15, the Embassy received a delegation
representing the Thai shrimp industry. The delegation,
comprised of the heads of several regional shrimp farmers
associations, the Thai Shrimp Association, and the Thai
Marine Shrimp Farmers Association, presented to the Economic
Counselor a 2-page letter addressed to the "U.S.
International Trade Commission via His Excellency the U.S.
Ambassador to Thailand," requesting the "elimination of
antidumping suit against Thai shrimp." The letter expresses
the Thai peoples' gratitude to the U.S. for its "lending
hands and support" to tsunami victims, and summarizes the
damage caused to the shrimp industry by the December 26, 2004
tsunami.

SIPDIS


2. Economic Counselor extended the Embassy's condolences to
all who lost their loved ones or livelihoods in the tsunami
disaster. We then outlined the responsibilities and
independent status of the U.S. ITC, and the basic procedures
and general prospective timeline of a changed circumstances
review. Given the ITC's independent status and role in any
possible future changed circumstances review of the Thai
shrimp injury and AD determination, we noted that the
delegation's letter should properly be sent to the ITC
directly. To this end, we promised to provide the delegation
with technical instructions on how to do this (basically,
those stated in the relevant Federal Register notice and
those published in the Commission's procedural regulations,
especially 19 C.F.R. sec 201.8).


3. Separately, we understand that the Royal Thai Government
has submitted, or will soon submit, its comments to the U.S.
ITC in connection with the Commission's current examination
of whether the tsunami's impact on the Thai industry warrants
a changed circumstances review.
BOYCE
BOYCE