Lifting of US ban on shrimp exports sought

The government has begun efforts to convince the United States to lift its temporary ban on the importation of shrimp products from the Philippines.

Bianca Pearl Sykimte, director of the export marketing bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said the DTI’s commercial and agricultural attaches in the United States had been coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and that a meeting had already been scheduled between BFAR and its American counterpart to immediately resolve the trade issue.

DTI data showed that the Philippines exported last year 3.21 million kilograms or P895.76 million worth of shrimps and prawns, both fresh and processed, to the United States, one of the largest markets for local agricultural products.

Fishing technology

Sykimte said the volume and value may be small compared to other export commodities, but that the ban still affects the Philippines’ market access to the United States, particularly for related products such as shrimp paste.

In an advisory issued last week, the DTI said that the US government had prohibited the importation of shrimp caught using commercial fishing technology that adversely affects turtles.

“Philippine exporters of shrimp paste or other shrimp products are advised not to ship to the US to avoid shipments being held by the US Customs and Border Protection until this issue is resolved,” read the DTI’s advisory.

The DTI also said that local exporters of shrimp paste or other shrimp products to the US who are affected by the temporary ban are advised to communicate directly with the BFAR. —Alden M. Monzon INQ