U.S. salmon farming for the most part is situated in and around Washington County's Cobscook Bay. Washington County is the lowest-income county in the entire State, and has long suffered from depressed economic conditions.
"The county's fragile existence depends on the continued presence and health of our farmed salmon industry," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a letter to Secretary Evans. "Our farmers have twice been saved by the imposition of antidumping duties against salmon imports – first from Norway and later from Chile – that were destroying the domestic industry and the many good jobs it provides for our state."
The Commerce Department currently allows exporters to be excused from the order if they have not "dumped" salmon in three consecutive years, reflecting the belief that continued application of a duty is not necessary to prevent future dumping by the exporter. The Senators noted that, according to U.S. import statistics, the average price of Chilean salmon in the United States fell dramatically after the end of their third review period. Further, the trade press widely reported that in the months following the third review period, world salmon prices fell to a record low because of a glut of salmon largely created by Chilean overproduction. The Senators argued that this fact, coupled with other significant evidence, indicates that Chilean exporters may be attempting to dodge laws created for the protection of the U.S. fishing industry.
"We strongly urge you to take the full time necessary and available to ensure that your final results are fair and correct with regard to all of the interested parties."