U.S. Shrimp Farmers Win Fight for Tariffs

U.S. shrimp farmers won a yearlong effort to justify tariffs on shrimp from six nations after the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a final ruling saying the American seafood industry had been harmed by a surge in imports.

The 6-0 vote was the fourth and final ruling needed to proceed with a program of tariffs on as much as $2.7 billion a year in shrimp imports from China, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The tariffs would apply to frozen shrimp, which accounts for about 99% of imports, as the trade panel voted 4 to 2 against claims of damage from canned shrimp.

The Commerce Department will set the final duty rates, which would average more than 17%, based on preliminary rulings.