The European Commission has confirmed it has opened an anti-dumping investigation after receiving a complaint that Turkey has been exporting large volumes of government-subsidized fresh, frozen and chilled seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) to the Spanish market.
The complaint was lodged last month by the Spanish Business Association of Marine Aquaculture Producers (APROMAR), on behalf of producers, representing 25 percent of the EU’s total production of these species. It alleged that Turkish fish farmers were benefiting from subsidies granted by their government, including direct subsidies granted for the organic production of bass and bream and low-interest bank loans. It also claims that government revenue due from producers and exporters is forgone or not collected.
APROMAR has provided evidence to the commission that the volumes of bass and bream from Turkey have increased overall in absolute terms and have increased in terms of market share. It claimed that the volume and the prices of the imported product under investigation have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the quantities sold, the level of prices charged and the market share held by EU producers, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance and the financial situation for those companies.
The commission’s investigation of subsidization and injury will cover the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. It will determine whether the product under investigation originating in Turkey is being subsidized and whether these subsidized imports have caused injury to the industry in the EU.
The Government of Turkey has been invited for consultations and the country’s bass and bream exporting producers have been invited to participate in the investigation.
Turkish aquaculture is based on three species: seabass and seabream, both farmed in marine aquaculture, and trout, farmed mostly in freshwater.
Ambitious targets have been set for the country’s aquaculture. According to the Ministry of Development, Turkey’s aquaculture production will reach 600,000 metric tons (MT) by 2023, including freshwater production. In value terms, aquaculture exports will grow to EUR 750 million (USD 831.7 million) by 2023, up from EUR 428 million (USD 474.6 million) in 2013.
