Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(07/22/2003 -- 21:08GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 22 (VNA) - The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has ignored proper information on Viet Nam's "tra" and "basa" catfish rearing and export, aiming to levy an absurdly high import tax on Vietnamese "tra" and "basa" fish fillets, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh said on Tuesday as she commented on DOC's July 18 decision to raise the import tax on Vietnamese frozen "tra" and "basa" catfish fillets.

Even the U.S. public opinion was unable to consent with DOC's unfair and partial decisions, the spokeswoman said, citing a letter sent by a number of U.S. senators to the chairwoman of the US International Trade Commission on July 18, expressing their deep concern over the anti-dumping tax imposition on Vietnamese "tra" and "basa" catfish.

The senators, namely John McCain, Chuck Hagel, Diane Feinstein, Olympia Snowe, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, requested that ITC make every effort to ensure that its decision will be based on relevant facts and made in the spirit of free and open trade between the two countries as envisioned by the Viet Nam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Viet Nam highly appreciated and praised this proper act by the U.S. senators and hoped that the U.S. International Trade Commission would give fair and objective consideration to make a practical decision, contributing to encouraging businesses of the two countries to increase trade relations for the benefits of both sides, including the benefits of U.S. businesses and consumers, the spokeswoman stressed.