The International Trade Administration under the US Department of Commerce (DOC) is delaying slightly -- until May 28 -- a preliminary decision on whether to impose countervailing duties on frozen warmwater shrimp imports from Vietnam, reports the Vietnam News Service.
Originally, the DOC planned to issue the preliminary decision on March 25 after the US International Trade Commission confirmed the US shrimp industry had suffered significant losses due to subsidised shrimp imports.
However, on February 8, Vietnam asked the DOC to extend the preliminary decision as they believe that the normal period of 65 days was insufficient for an investigation.
Under US law, the preliminary decision can be extended up to 130 days from the date of initiation of the investigation.
In December, the US-based Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries filed a lawsuit with the DOC requesting that countervailing duties be imposed on shrimp imported from seven countries, including Vietnam.
