At a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, the International Trade Commission collected testimony in support or opposition of maintaining U.S. antidumping tariffs on Vietnamese pangasius, a catfish-like species marketed as basa, tra or swai.
Wednesday's hearing was part of a "sunset review" in which the ITC is required every five years to determine whether revoking tariffs is likely to result in continuation or recurrence of dumping. The process began in October, and the agency is scheduled to vote on the matter by mid-June.
According to the ITC's Web site, seven individuals from four organizations representing the U.S. catfish industry, as well as 11 congressmen led by Alabama's Artur Davis, submitted testimony in favor of upholding tariffs on Vietnamese pangasius. No one submitted testimony to contest the tariffs.
Why bother? Rarely are antidumping tariffs rescinded. The cards are stacked in the domestic industry's favor. All the petitioners need to do is show up and plead their case.
One U.S. importer begrudgingly told me on Wednesday, "There are only so many hours in a day, and we are deeply involved with other efforts to help sustain pangasius imports." (The "other efforts" he referred to is a measure attached to the 2008 Farm Bill that would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect and grade catfish, which would surely slow catfish imports.)
"We have fantastic stories to tell about our products," said the importer. "However, we have allowed completely distorted stories spread. Why shouldn't the average consumer or politician believe every press release from an Alabama congressman - it is rarely countered and a consistent message about the benefits of seafood imports along with their exemplary record of food safety is rarely told."
U.S. importers, foreign exporters and the organizations that represent them need to make their voices heard by submitting testimony and reaching out to the press, even if they stand little to no chance of eradicating tariffs.
Best regards,
Steven Hedlund
Editor
SeafoodSource
