Shrimp claims over the top

EDITORIAL

Published: 22 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The US shrimp industry seems to operate under the following theory _ if they do the same thing, over and over, the result will eventually be pleasantly rewarding. Twice since 2004, the industry has pressured trade officials to investigate the "dumping" of frozen shrimp from Thailand, the biggest supplier of shrimp to the US. Twice they were defeated. But the persistent protectionists are at it again, hoping once again for a different result and a better life financed by huge fines against Thailand.

Dumping is a sales tactic generally barred in international trade. Simply put, an exporter "dumps" a product when he sells it cheaper in the overseas market than at home. In a fair market, a US industry can prove a Thai group is dumping shrimp by simply comparing prices in US and Thai supermarkets. But of course everything is fair in war and international trade, and the US has brought different rules to the table.

In 2006, as part of preparations for the most recent dumping lawsuit against Thailand, the US passed the Byrd Amendment. It is fittingly named for its sponsor, the late US Sen Robert Byrd. Byrd was once a community leader of the Ku Klux Klan and never known for his friendliness to foreigners. His provision allows the US International Trade Commission to compare the price of Thai shrimp in markets in the US and Japan.

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brilliant
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Discussion 16 : 22 Jan 2013 at 22.2916
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rebel4ever - absolutely. When I lived in Thailand, I wanted to bring a BMW 1150GS motorcycle I had in storage to ride around the north. Forget it, I couldn't afford the duty and the insurance costs Thai insurance companies wanted for a large imported bike were outrageous.
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bigpicture
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Discussion 15 : 22 Jan 2013 at 16.0115
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The author references the "Byrd Amendment" as being passed in 2006. This bill was actually passed before that date and repealed in Oct. of 2007. However there were caveats when it was repealed and some of the payments that should have gone to appropriate entities(small companies for example) continued to a very small number of "big" companies(Timken). The review of it's history is not short but after seeing this editorial I took a look. Nyu.edu, the article is titled "The Short and Unhappy life of the Byrd Amendment".There are other trade issues in place I am sure. Sen.Byrd was, in fact, a member of the klan in his 20's and 30's,bio in Wiki.
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ianprince
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Discussion 14 : 22 Jan 2013 at 15.0414
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Thailand can always not selling shrimp to USA.
Let them miss our cheap shrimp.
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kasper
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Discussion 13 : 22 Jan 2013 at 14.3913
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Since the writer has brought up this subject. Perhaps he will tell us all why it is fair for Thailand to impose fines/taxes on pretty much everything foreign, or simply block it, but not fair for foreign countries to tax/fine imports from Thailand?

I am no fan of the US, but I think it is time someone shows Thailand that fair trade should work both ways or not at all.
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khunatm
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Discussion 12 : 22 Jan 2013 at 14.0112
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Tempest in a tea pot. The American shrimp industry is recovering and it wants its market share back.The Yanks are giving the Thais a workshop on how to do business in America. So to the Thai shrimp industry..spend more money on "lobbying". You obviously have not shared that big pie with the right people.
And.. as to the moral outrage..foreign companies are here to take advantage of very cheap labor and very lax labor/safety codes/laws.
And.. if things are so good back home..why are you here??
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watchdog
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Discussion 11 : 22 Jan 2013 at 12.4911
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The complaints raised in the editorial may be well founded, but isn't this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Thai authorities seem to instantly recognize protectionism when it is used against them, but not when they employ it. This is true not only true in the area of imports (where foreigners need to deal with the notorious Customs Department), but also the ludicrously protectionist and exenophopic restrictions on foreign investment here.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 10 : 22 Jan 2013 at 10.0710
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Duties right ?, wrong ?, too high ?, too low ?, I, an American, still question why
the U.S. buys anything elsewhere when they can produce/manufacture it themselves. Especially when importing puts their own people out of work.Protestations by the shrimp exporting countries may
highlight the problem and get the U.S. thinking more selfishly...... sorta like Thailand.
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Ian
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Discussion 9 : 22 Jan 2013 at 09.219
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Thailand has never offered a level playing field to foreigners, so why should it expect the same from them? I say we should apply the same rules to them that they apply to us.
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djay
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Discussion 8 : 22 Jan 2013 at 08.488
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So, according to the author, Thai exporters are selling a better product (shrimp) at a cheaper price (than US shrimp companies). So, according to the author, Thai exporters are giving up income they could have gained - on their better product. So what does that say of his Thai exporters? Not too smart?
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rebel4ever
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Discussion 7 : 22 Jan 2013 at 08.157
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Try to import a Harley Davidson or a Corvette from the US. It doubles the costs of purchase thanks to Thai bike and car making protection. And totally agree with #2.
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Shrimp claims over the top | Bangkok Post: opinion