Vietnamese Trade official concerns over shrimp case

Fri, 01/02/2004 - 10:37

Vietnam Economic Times, Friday, January 02, 2004 22:40:12


Vietnamese Trade official concerns over US shrimp producers' anti-dumping complaints

The Trade Ministry is deeply regretted and concerned over the anti-dumping complaints filed by US shrimp producers against six countries, the trade protection action runs contrary to the trade liberalisation policy of the US, said Deputy Trade Minister Tran Duc Minh.

Interviewed by the Vietnam News Agency on Thursday in regards to the anti-dumping complaints filed by the Shrimp Trade Action Committee (STAC), representatives of the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and other US shrimp producers, against six countries, including Viet Nam on Dec. 31, the Deputy Minister said:

"Viet Nam's economy in general and the shrimp farming, processing and exporting sector in particular are operating under the regulations of the market economy. The Vietnamese Government does not subsidize shrimp producers, processors and exporters in any shape or form. I affirmed that Vietnamese shrimp exporters have not dumped any shrimp products on the US market.

"Viet Nam believes that relevant US agencies would settle this problem in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the Viet Nam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and in the spirit of free trade as the US usually stipulates. This does not only contribute to promoting the development of Viet Nam-US economic and commercial relations, but also protect the rights of US consumers and US shrimp importers and distributors.

In regards to Viet Nam's reaction to these complaints, Deputy Minister Minh said that the lawsuit is unjust and Viet Nam will protest the lawsuit. Viet Nam will prove that its shrimp industry is operating under the regulations of the market economy and that Viet Nam has not dumped any shrimp. "We hope that the US will treat the complaints objectively and fairly as US Trade Secretary Donald l. Evans and US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick affirmed with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan and Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen," Minh said.

"Vietnamese shrimp exporters, with assistance from the Viet Nam Association of Shrimp Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the Trade Ministry and the Ministry of Fisheries will continue to expand and diversify outlets to ensure the sales of their products for millions of Vietnamese farmers," the Deputy Minister concluded.

Vietnam News Agency
- (02/01/2004)