The Thai Frozen Foods Association advises the use of solid facts to rebut US countervailing duties on frozen-food products, the association's honorary president Panisawon Chamnarnweh said.

The US Commerce Department has announced increases in anti-dumping duties for shrimps imported from China, raised to 5.76 per cent, from India, to 11.32 per cent, from Thailand, to 2.09 per cent, from Vietnam, to 7.05 per cent, from Malaysia to 62.74 per cent.

Even though the duty increase on Thai shrimps is relatively low, but higher than the 2-per-cent initial ceiling, the Thai government must assign a lawyer to rebut it, as the United States is a major export market of Thai shrimps, Panisawon said. Other affected shrimp exporters are expected to do the same.

However, Thailand must clarify its position with correct facts and figures. This is because such negotiation can be undertaken during the consideration period before the official announcement of the duty's implementation.

Moreover, Thailand has presented scientific evidence to refute US claims that early mortality syndrome (EMS), a disease to which Thai shrimps have been exposed, could spread to humans.

The Thai Commerce Ministry must explain that the government's support measures for shrimp farmers are all in accordance to the World Trade Organisation's terms and conditions, Panisawon said.

He added that negotiations to free Thai shrimps from anti-dumping duties should have taken place when the US started to collect data or began its threats.