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EDITORIAL: PROTECTING SHRIMPERS WOULD HURT CONSUMERS

Posted with permission from SEAFOOD.COM

San Antonio Express-News, Sunday April 11, 2004

Competition is an important marketplace ingredient for consumers. That's a key reason placing a tariff on imported shrimp is a bad idea.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is pushing for tariffs to boost profits for Gulf Coast shrimpers, but the plan that would help them hurts almost everyone else.

The Express-News recently reported that the International Trade Commission found that domestic shrimpers have been hurt by imports, but that doesn't necessarily equate unfair competition.

The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating allegations of dumping. Results of the probe are due in a couple of months.

A lot more is at stake than the prosperity of domestic shrimp harvesters.

Consumers are well-served by lower prices on the seafood favorite. Lower prices are good for distributors as well.

Shrimpers must find a way to remain competitive without harming consumers and other segments of the economy.

Tariffs are a dangerous tool that often create repercussions well beyond the targeted industry. Clearly, free trade is the best path to take for the economy as a whole.

Editorial comment from San Antonio Express News