India will send a delegation including officials of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and members of Seafood Exporters Association to the United States next week to oppose punitive duties against Indian shrimp.
The mission comes in response to a petition by the US Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries before the International Trade Administration, the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission, demanding imposition of countervailing duties on some frozen warm water shrimps from seven countries, including India.
The countervailing duties, a punishment for alleged subsidies of Asian exports, would be 'a big blow' to the Indian seafood industry, which is already passing through a 'tough phase' as marine exports have registered a decline of 6.91% in quantity and 16.60% in dollar earnings in April-September 2012-13, said Norbert Karikkassery, President of the Kerala-based Seafood Exporters Association.
