ASPA Welcomes U.S. Customs Announcement on 2011 Duty Distributions to Gulf Shrimp Industry


ASPA Headquarters …On November 4, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that it will be withholding a small amount of funds from distribution under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (“CDSOA”) in 2011. The announcement is welcome news to domestic shrimp producers who depend on CDSOA funds to withstand competition from unfairly traded imports.

“By the end of November, the vast majority of funds owed to the Gulf shrimp industry under CDSOA in 2011 should be distributed by Customs to this vital US industry,” said David Veal, executive director of the American Shrimp Processors Association. “Earlier this year, we were deeply concerned that Customs was proposing to withhold most of the duties. We are very pleased that Customs has decided to do the right thing to help our industry and domestic industries across the board combat unfair foreign trade.”

“We are especially grateful to Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) for her leadership on this issue and to Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) for his assistance to insure that the law is administered as intended,” noted Eddy Hayes, outside counsel to ASPA. “Customs now appears to be implementing the law in a manner that will ensure that Gulf shrimp processors and fishermen receive the duties they are owed. This is a very positive development for our industry and for shrimping communities throughout the Gulf.”

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For more information, please contact:

Eddy Hayes, Legal Counsel, ASPA
(504) 585-7500
ehayes@leakeandersson.com

David Veal, Executive Director, ASPA
(228) 806-9600
cdveal@cableone.net