U.S. Soybean Growers Warn of Possible Retaliation if U.S. Imposes Antidumping Duties on Shrimp
In an unusual development in the antidumping investigation on imported shrimp, American soybean growers have warned the U.S. government against imposing antidumping duties on shrimp imports from Asia, citing a threat from the region to retaliate by boycotting soybean imports.
In a recent letter to Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, the president of the American Soybean Association (ASA) said the outcome of the antidumping investigation on shrimp from Thailand, China, Vietnam and India could have "a direct and serious impact" on the U.S. soybean industry. Specifically, the ASA is concerned over a threat by nine private trade groups in Thailand, representing virtually all business consumers of U.S. soybean exports, that "have agreed to ban imports of soybeans and soybean meal" if the Commerce Department imposed antidumping duties on Thai shrimp. The ASA's letter also warned that the antidumping duties could lead to lost business by soybean farmers and exports of U.S. soybean products to other countries in Asia, including China.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance, comprised of U.S. shrimp producers, has called the boycott threat "economic terrorism" and advised the U.S. Government to ignore the demands of the U.S. soybean industry.
Labels: Boycotts
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