On December 31, 2003, a U.S. shrimp industry group (the Southern Shrimp Alliance) filed a petitions with the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA) and the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging dumping of warm water shrimp and prawns by six countries, including India, Brazil, Ecuador, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.  The alleged dumping margins range from 31 percent to 238 percent.  In 2002, U.S. imports of shrimp were valued at $3.4 billion and the six countries cited in the petition accounted for 70 percent of the total value.  The ITA's decision whether or not to proceed with the dumping investigation is due by January 20, 2004.