|
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) expressed his support for continuing antidumping orders on imports of frozen warmwater shrimp imported from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam in a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission Chairman David Johanson. Cassidy highlighted the importance of these antidumping orders to ensure Louisiana’s shrimp industry can compete on a level playing field. “[D]umped imports from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam surged into the U.S. market, driving down prices, depressing earnings, and making it increasingly difficult to cover the costs of production. Faced with declining revenues and market share, many small fishermen, processors, and distributors were forced to close. The orders have imposed needed discipline on imports and allowed our vital Louisiana shrimp industry to survive,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “The shrimp caught in Louisiana waters and processed at our docks provides financial stability to the region, and, more importantly, allows workers to support themselves, their families, and their communities,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “[T]he domestic shrimp industry remains fragile. Shrimp imports from these four countries remain significant and continue to undercut domestic prices. We must use every tool at our disposal to help these hardworking Americans remain competitive and ensure that the rich traditions of this industry are passed down to future generations,” concluded Dr. Cassidy. Read the full letter here or below. Dear Chairman Johanson: I write to express my support for continuing the antidumping orders on imports of frozen warmwater shrimp imported from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. A positive outcome in the pending sunset review of these orders will ensure that Louisiana’s shrimp industry can compete on a level playing field. Throughout our coastal communities, shrimping has a long and prominent history. For centuries, in parishes such as Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermillion, family-owned and operated shrimp harvesting and processing businesses have been handed down from generation to generation. For these Louisianans, the shrimp industry represents a way of life. The shrimp caught in Louisiana waters and processed at our docks provides financial stability to the region, and, more importantly, allows workers to support themselves, their families, and their communities. All told, the shrimp industry supports 15,000 jobs in Louisiana and has an annual economic impact of $1.3 billion. Before the filing of antidumping petitions in 2003, dumped imports from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam surged into the U.S. market, driving down prices, depressing earnings, and making it increasingly difficult to cover the costs of production. Faced with declining revenues and market share, many small fishermen, processors, and distributors were forced to close. The orders have imposed needed discipline on imports and allowed our vital Louisiana shrimp industry to survive. Unfortunately, the domestic shrimp industry remains fragile. Shrimp imports from these four countries remain significant and continue to undercut domestic prices. We must use every tool at our disposal to help these hardworking Americans remain competitive and ensure that the rich traditions of this industry are passed down to future generations. Thank you for the role you play in enforcing U.S. trade remedy laws to protect our companies and workers against unfair trade practices. I appreciate your careful consideration of this case, and I hope the Commission will vote to keep the antidumping orders on shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam in place. ### |