Thailand is taking the US before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for its practice of double taxation against Thai frozen shrimp, asking for a ruling in favour of fair market access.

Puangrat Asavapisit, Thailand's ambassador to the WTO, said the Kingdom had filed its case with the WTO's dispute-settlement body on Monday. Thai frozen-shrimp exports to the US are subject to an anti-dumping duty and a continuous bond, which violates WTO regulations.

She said the way the US calculates the anti-dumping rate also violated the WTO's fair-practice rule. The rate is distorted to be higher than the value of the shrimp. - The Nation.

n competitiveness

FTI requests government help

Despite the political turmoil, the Industrial Confidence Index was better last month than in February, but steep oil prices, a strengthening baht and rising interest rates are important factors affecting manufacturing.

Federation of Thai Industries president Santi Vilassakdanont said yesterday his body would propose that the government implement tax measures to help manufacturers keep the Kingdom competitive.

Firms also want the government to continue stabilising both the oil price and the baht, in order to allow them to manage competitive costs. And they urge the government to launch a campaign to impede low-priced imported goods.