ENEVA, May 13 (Reuters) - The United States has appealed World Trade Organization (WTO) rulings condemning its measures against cheap shrimp imports from India and Thailand, according to U.S. documents filed at the WTO.

A WTO panel ruled on Feb. 29 that a U.S. requirement on India and Thailand to post bonds to cover full anti-dumping duties on imports of shrimp violated trade rules.

But the United States, in documents dated April 29, said it was asking the WTO's Appellate Body to review the panel's decision that its bond requirement in the two cases was "unreasonable".

In 2004, U.S. Customs started to require exporters subject to paying anti-dumping duties to post a bond covering the full amount as security if there was a risk of default. India and Thailand argued the requirement was an excessive financial burden on exporters paying the anti-dumping duties.

The U.S. move follows appeals by India and Thailand, dated April 17, also challenging the panel's decision.

Bangkok and Delhi had wanted the panel to rule that a country imposing anti-dumping measures was not entitled to seek any additional security beyond the anti-dumping duty itself.

"We are pleased that USTR is defending the enhanced bonding requirement, which has allowed Customs to collect 85 percent of the duties owed on unfairly traded shrimp," John Williams, executive director of the U.S. Southern Shrimp Alliance, said in a statement.

The Appellate Body, the WTO's highest court, normally rule within 90 to 120 days of an appeal.

Thailand, the world's eighth biggest food exporter, is the main supplier of shrimp to the United States.

The case affects Thai seafood exporters such as Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF) TUF.BK, Charoen Pokphand Foods CPF.BK and Seafresh Industry CFRE.BK. Thai exported shrimp end up on the shelves of U.S. retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

The case is also of interest to Indian companies such as Avanti Feeds (AVNT.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), Uniroyal Marine Exports (UMEL.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), Waterbase (WTRB.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) and unlisted exporters Devi Seafoods and Falcon Marine Exports.

(Reporting by Jonathan Lynn in Geneva and Missy Ryan in Washington; Editing by Christian Wiessner)

Wed May 14, 2008 3:12am IST

Source: in.reuters.com