Complaint Filed Over Salmon Imports

Salmon farmers in Maine and Washington state have filed an anti-dumping complaint with the Commerce Department accusing Chile of illegally subsidizing its salmon exporters and undercutting U.S. prices by as much as 40 percent.

The Coalition for Fair Atlantic Salmon Trade, claiming the unfair trading practices are driving U.S. salmon farmers out of business, also asked the Clinton administration on Tuesday to reconsider its efforts to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement to include Chile.

Joseph McGonigle, managing director of the coalition, said in a telephone interview from Brewer, Maine, that Chile was selling salmon in this country at 40 percent below cost.

The coalition filed petitions with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission seeking countervailing duties on Chilean exports to offset the alleged subsidies to farmers who raise salmon in pens.

Chilean salmon farmers intend to “vigorously defend ourselves against this unwarranted attack,” said Rodrigo Infante, general manager of the Association of Chilean Salmon Farmers.

“There is absolutely no basis for imposing restrictions on imports of Chilean salmon,” he said in a statement, adding that U.S. salmon farmers can’t meet the domestic demand for the fish.