THE EUROPEAN official responsible for investigations into salmon trade

safeguards and anti-dumping measures is to use his speaking slot at the

Aquaculture Today conference later this month to explain what the

European Commission is doing to protect EU salmon farmers from unfairly

priced imports.

Speaking in advance of the conference Willem de Munck, deputy head of

Unit, European Commission Trade Defence Instruments, spoke about his

concern over the long-running trade dispute: "What is happening on the safeguards case and the anti-dumping case is

extremely delicate and both are at a crucial phase."

He added: "At the Aquaculture

Today conference I will explain what the Commission is doing in terms of

the safeguards case and the anti-dumping case. I am in charge of the

investigation together with the Head of the Unit."

The explanation will be particularly valuable as the dispute appears to

be escalating rather than settling down. In the latest twist, Chile and

Norway presented their arguments about the safeguards issue to a WTO

consultation meeting held recently in Geneva.

The protest is a reaction to the imposition by the EU of safeguard

measures against salmon imports from Chile, Norway and the Faroe

Islands. These measures will be in force until at least May, when the

deadline for the EU member countries to decide whether to continue, halt

or modify them is up.

Fritz-Harald Wenig, director for Trade Defence in the European

Commission, has presented the case as a choice for Norwegian fish

farmers between accepting the safeguard measures or having anti-dumping

measures imposed on them. He said that there is still a tiny possibility

for Norway to avoid an anti-dumping duty on its salmon, but then they

have to accept safeguard measures.

Willem de Munck will be speaking in the afternoon session of the second

day of the inaugural Aquaculture Today conference which will be held in

Edinburgh on 13th and 14th of April 2005.

Aquaculture Today is the only UK-based aquaculture conference covering

all aquaculture sectors; salmonids, shellfish, marine fin-fish and other

species. The conference will explore a number of key issues affecting

aquaculture businesses including the regulatory environment for

aquaculture, environmental responsibilities, aquatic animal health and

aquaculture markets.

Further information about the Aquaculture Today conference can be found

at www.aquaculturetoday.co.uk or

by calling 0845 241 3444.

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