Domestic Industry Participation in The ITC’s Preliminary Injury Investigation

After ASPA filed its petitions on shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam on October 25, 2023, the International Trade Commission had only 45 days to decide whether there was enough evidence of injury to the domestic industry to allow the cases to proceed. In addition to filing nearly two dozen individual processor questionnaire responses, ASPA witnesses appeared at the Commission’s staff conference to offer testimony and answer questions, and it filed a post-conference brief. The result was a unanimous affirmative preliminary determination from the Commission. In their opinion, the Commission cited 22 individual pieces of evidence or testimony offered by ASPA.

Today’s post shows that the preliminary injury victory at the Commission relied heavily on ASPA’s testimony and briefing. At the Commission’s staff conference, ASPA’s witnesses and counsel accounted for over 94% of the lines of testimony and answers to questions offered on behalf of the domestic industry. In the briefing phase, in addition to the materials already submitted in ASPA’s petition, ASPA’s briefing and written answers to questions accounted for 75% of all written argument offered to support the injury case.

“ASPA is extremely grateful to the ITC Commissioners and staff for their affirmative preliminary determination,” said Trey Pearson, the President of ASPA. “They had only 45 days to make the preliminary decision that allowed our cases to continue. I am proud of our work to achieve that critical initial victory for the domestic industry.”

This is the fourth in a series of “Shrimp Duties Updates” from ASPA to keep members of our industry informed about the facts and figures underlying ASPA’s shrimp case. These updates will be available on ASPA’s website and you can sign up to receive them. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Shrimp Duties Update!