Gulf shrimpers seek relief from foreign imports

Gulf of Mexico shrimpers have filed petitions with the federal government seeking relief from subsidized shrimp imports, according to a report on nola.com. The move comes several weeks after Gulf shrimpers hailed a House bill that included a provision to increase U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s powers to combat illegal imports. The Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries late last week filed the petitions, which seek “countervailing duties”—duties imposed to offset subsidies by foreign governments—on shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The coalition states that the duties are needed to counteract the unfair trade advantages currently held by these countries. The petitions will be investigated by the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce. To read the complete story, click here.