Landrieu Presses For Extension Of Antidumping Shrimp Protections

“Repealing these protections would permanently damage our domestic shrimp industry and devastate the hard-working people in Louisiana. Family small businesses in the shrimp business are simply no match to large, foreign enterprises dumping significant amounts of underpriced shrimp into the United States. For the thousands of shrimpers who call the Gulf Coast home, this is more than a job. It’s a time-honored way of life,” Sen. Landrieu said.

“I remember, as a 12-year-old girl, the priest blessing the fleet of shrimp boats in the bayou. We believe in this industry’s economic prowess and its significance in our vibrant culture. I hope my grandchildren will be able to witness the blessing of the fleet like I did when I was 12.”

The Louisiana shrimp industry contributes more than $1 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports 5,000 active shrimpers and thousands of other individuals indirectly employed by the industry. The Gulf Coast shrimp industry has been triple-hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Gustav and Ike in 2008 and then the BP Oil Spill in April 2010.

A final vote by the ITC is expected mid-March this year. If the ITC determines the antidumping measures are still warranted, the tariff will remain in place until 2016. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is headed by six Commissioners and is currently chaired by Deanna Tanner Okun, a Republican, and vice chaired by Irving A. Williamson, a Democrat.  In total, three Democrats and three Republicans serve as Commissioners.