Ireland and UK complain about salmon imports

Britain and Ireland have filed complaints with the European Commission that cheap farmed salmon products from Norway, the Faeroe Islands and Chile are being dumped on the EU market.

“The UK and Irish governments … quoted an increase of 14% in imports in the first nine months of 2003 as compared to 2002,” EU spokeswoman Arancha Gonzalez Gonzalez said in Brussels.

Gonzalez said EU trade officials “will continue to have discussions” with the three “to see if we can find an adequate solution.”

She said the investigation was expected to last nine months.

Scottish and Irish salmon fisheries officials claim the cheaper imports are unfairly hurting their own salmon fisheries and are demanding the EU take action.

If the EU finds that the imports are undercutting EU fisherman, they could call for duties on those imports under separate free trade agreements with the three countries.

Norwegian Fisheries Minister Svein Ludvigsen said in Oslo he was optimistic about the outcome of an investigation, hinting that a solution avoiding duties could be found.

“We had hoped that they would reject the request from Britain and Ireland, but when the Commission decided to go ahead I am very happy that they decided for an investigation and not safeguards.”