India has asked the World Trade Organization to force the United States to abide by a ruling in the "shortest possible time" to ease the burden on Indian shrimp exporters subject to U.S. antidumping tariffs, the Business Standard of India reported today.
In July, the WTO's Appellate Body upheld a February ruling that a U.S. law requiring foreign shrimp exporters to post a bond covering a tariff's full amount is inconsistent with international trade laws. The decision hinged on whether the bond is a reasonable security or an excessive burden.
The complaint was brought by India and Thailand, two of the six countries the United States slapped with shrimp tariffs a few years ago.
Following the ruling, the United States declared it needed a "reasonable period of time (RPT)" to comply.
"India is disappointed at the U.S. request for RPT, as the Indian shrimp industry continues to face an enormous burden on its exports due to the U.S. anti-dumping measure," a WTO statement said.
Thailand said it would meet with the United States soon for an RPT to ensure prompt implementation of the WTO ruling.
"Although the U.S. has decreased its antidumping duty to 1.69 percent from 14 percent on shrimp exports, we want it to be brought down to zero," Sea Food Exporters Association of India President Anwar Hashim said.
Through the first half of 2008, U.S. shrimp imports from India are down 30 percent, to 11.4 million pounds, compared to same six-month period last year, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
