Thai, RI to oppose dumping accusations

Thai, RI to oppose dumping accusations

Antara/TNA, Cancun, Mexico

Thailand is joining forces with Indonesia and Vietnam to oppose U.S. accusations of dumping cheap prawns on the U.S. market, according to Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik.

Speaking after discussions with his counterparts from Indonesia and Vietnam, gathering in the Mexican resort of Cancun for the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting, Adisai said that the three countries would hire a single legal team to oppose the accusations, levelled by U.S. prawn farmers.

At the same time, the three countries would exchange information to present their case, and demonstrate that the accusations were unfounded, he said.

Adisai said that he had also engaged in talks with his Nigerian counterpart, who had expressed an interest in joining together with Thailand to produce rice, as Nigeria could not produce enough rice for domestic consumption.

Describing this as a good opportunity for Thai investors who wanted to put their money into rice farming ventures abroad, he said that the Nigerian authorities also wanted Thai agriculturalists to transfer rice-farming technology.

He noted that Nigeria had continually imported large quantities of rice from Thailand, but that Thailands market share was decreasing as cheaper Indian rice was entering the market.

The commerce minister expressed confidence that a deal with Nigeria would help push up Thailands market share to previous levels.