Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 19, 2004

Contacts:
Warren Connelly, Akin Gump Hauer Strauss & Feld LLP 202-887-4046
Wally Stevens, Slade Gorton & Company, Inc. 617-541-3114
Jeanne McKnight, McKnight & Company, Inc. 1-877-206-ASDA

ASDA STATEMENT
LSA Challenge to Shrimp Antidumping Petition Should Open the Door to Dialogue, Real Solutions
by
Wally Stevens, ASDA President

January 19, 2004--On January 16, 2004, just two weeks after the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) filed an antidumping petition against warm water canned and frozen shrimp from six countries, the Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA) has filed a document at the Department of Commerce (DOC) opposing “as currently drafted” SSA’s antidumping petition.

The LSA argues that, in making a determination of standing, the DOC should treat fresh shrimp as the same “like product” as frozen shrimp because de-heading and freezing should be considered “very minor” processing steps. The LSA further requests that the DOC poll the industry to determine “whether the Petitions are supported by the LSA.” LSA states in its letter that as an organization it will "support properly crafted petitions that include BOTH fresh and frozen shrimp within their scope and within a single domestic like product."

The American Seafood Distributors Association (ASDA), which represents “the other domestic industry” involved in this case, is not surprised at this latest development since differences have long existed within the various factions of the domestic harvesting and processing sectors.

We have challenged our elected and appointed leaders to advocate for, and find real solutions to, the problems facing commercial shrimp harvesters—including increasingly strict environmental regulations, habitat destruction, rising fuel costs, climate change, pressures from recreational interests, and an infrastructure that makes it difficult for the product to maintain its quality once it is offloaded and into the hands of the end user, as well as increased competition from global sources.

From the beginning, we have argued that the best way to address the problems facing the domestic harvesting and processing sector is for them to come face to face with the domestic distribution sector (ASDA) and work together toward a common goal of having a healthy industry. Once again, we suggest that the time has come to call for talks to re-unify this deeply divided “industry” that includes harvesters, processors, and the important sector (ASDA members) that includes those businesses that deliver products to the American consumer: cold storage companies, truckers, distributors, retailers, and restaurant operators. Collectively, we generate an estimated $9.8 billion economic benefit to the American economy and provide direct and indirect employment of more than 100,000 jobs. Our livelihoods are also at stake in this case.

Given the fact that the WTO has now declared that refunds of antidumping duties can no longer be paid out under the Byrd Amendment, it is extremely unfortunate that this expensive and divisive litigation appears to be proceeding full steam ahead based on the false hope of eventual receipt of Byrd Amendment monies. While we have every confidence that we will ultimately prevail, we at ASDA suggest that this latest indication of industry differences become a starting point to bring unity to the industry through real solutions, gained by real dialogue.