Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHENNAI84
2007-02-01 10:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:  

US DUMPING DUTIES FORCE INDIAN SHRIMP EXPORTERS TO

Tags:  ETRD PGOV EFIS EIND SENV IN CE BR EC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4722
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #0084/01 0321058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011058Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0618
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2246
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4968
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0705
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1298
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0025
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0027
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0043
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0188
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 2353
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000084 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/INS MNEWBILL
COMMERCE FOR MAC/ANESA/OSA/LDROKER/ASTERN
COMMERCE FOR ITA/TD/ITI/KJENCI/EHOLLOWAY
USTR FOR SOUTH ASIA AADLER/MSINGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PGOV EFIS EIND SENV IN CE BR EC
SUBJECT: US DUMPING DUTIES FORCE INDIAN SHRIMP EXPORTERS TO
ALTERNATE MARKETS

REF: (A) 06 CHENNAI 1497 (B) 05 CHENNAI 0121 (C) O4 CHENNAI 01306
(D) 04 CHENNAI 0944

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000084

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/INS MNEWBILL
COMMERCE FOR MAC/ANESA/OSA/LDROKER/ASTERN
COMMERCE FOR ITA/TD/ITI/KJENCI/EHOLLOWAY
USTR FOR SOUTH ASIA AADLER/MSINGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PGOV EFIS EIND SENV IN CE BR EC
SUBJECT: US DUMPING DUTIES FORCE INDIAN SHRIMP EXPORTERS TO
ALTERNATE MARKETS

REF: (A) 06 CHENNAI 1497 (B) 05 CHENNAI 0121 (C) O4 CHENNAI 01306
(D) 04 CHENNAI 0944


1. (SBU) Summary: Elias Sait, Secretary General of the Seafood
Exporters Association of India (SEAI),contends that the imposition
of U.S. anti-dumping duties on Indian shrimp and subsequent U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bond requirements have reduced
the number of seafood exporters to the U.S. Limited access to the
U.S. market has depressed producer prices (while consumer prices in
India have remained steady) and impacted a large number of Indian
shrimp fishers and farmers. In order to cover lost sales and stay
in business, small Indian shrimp operations are increasingly focused
on alternate markets. In 2006, Europe and Japan overtook the United
States as the principal markets for Indian shrimp exporters. Yet,
SEAI remains hopeful that in due time the customs bond requirement
and eventually the dumping duties will be removed by the U.S. End
Summary

DROP IN SHRIMP EXPORTS, SELLERS CLOSE SHOP
--------------


2. (SBU) In a meeting with us to review the impact of the customs
bond and anti-dumping duty requirements on Indian shrimp exporters,
Sait emphasized that shrimp exports to the U.S. have plummeted. He
explained that the countervailing duty (CVD) has affected shrimp
prices and diminished producer prices while consumer prices have
more or less remained steady. The CVD, combined with the subsequent
bond requirement, has "really killed" about 60 to 70 percent of
small to medium exporters who lack the liquidity to absorb the
additional cost. According to SEAI, the number of company exporters
fell from 130 in 2004, just before the dumping duties were
introduced, to 66 in 2006. Particularly hard hit are the small
exporting companies who, lacking sufficient liquid assets, found it
difficult to comply with the additional bond requirement. Forced to
choose between recovering losses or closing shop, the small to
medium exporters started to concentrate on alternate markets.

... AND WORKERS LOSE JOBS
--------------


3. (SBU) According to SEAI, which represents the majority of seafood
exporters in India, the losses to shrimp exporters dampened producer
prices and thereby impacted approximately two million Indian workers
involved in shrimp capture, farming, and processing. Neither the
national or state governments have provided any aid to those
affected, Sait asserted. However, in the past, fisheries experts
have claimed that a drop in shrimp catch sizes along with stagnant
productivity at farms ensured price stability (ref B).

SO EXPORTERS EXTEND TO OTHER MARKETS
--------------


4. (SBU) Europe and Japan have now emerged as the largest export
markets for Indian shrimp. Europe's share of Indian shrimp exports
has increased from 20 percent in 2004 to 33 percent in 2006, while
Japan's share increased from 18 percent to 23 percent during the
same period. In comparison, the U.S. share of Indian seafood
exports (including shrimp and other products) fell from 30 percent
in 2004 to 22 percent in 2006. Sait said that the rapid expansion
into the European and Japanese markets is particularly remarkable
given their strict phytosanitary (SPS) requirements. The Marine
Products Export Development Agency (MPEDA),an agency under the
Government of India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has helped
facilitate small exporters' entry into the European and Japanese
markets by providing soft loans and training to undertake hazard
analysis and pathogen reduction measures.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: SEASI remains hopeful that at least the bonding
issue will be resolved following the favorable December 15, 2006
ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade. Meanwhile, Indian
shrimp exporters who have settled with U.S. shrimpers or have been
forced to close down due to the dumping duties and bond requirements
see little reason to celebrate.


6. Embassy New Delhi cleared this cable.


CHENNAI 00000084 002 OF 002


HOPPER