Socialist Republic of Vietnam

VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF SEAFOOD EXPORTERS AND PRODUCERS (VASEP)

PRESS RELEASE

THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE IMPARTIAL AND OBJECTIVE IN RESOLVING THE TRA AND BASA DUMPING DISPUTE

(Hanoi, May 19, 2003) In an effort to find a positive solution to the dumping dispute regarding frozen tra and basa fish fillets imported into the United States, the Government of Vietnam sent a delegation of officials from responsible ministries to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in Washington, D.C. last week. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) is however very disappointed that the efforts and reasonable proposals of the Vietnamese side were not received in a constructive spirit of good faith. On the contrary, the DOC negotiating team proposed very low quota levels for imports of frozen tra and basa fish fillets and an impracticably high export price, both of which would stifle Vietnamese exports of frozen tra and basa fish fillets to the United States, creating difficulties for Vietnamese enterprises and fish farmers, harming the benefits of U.S. consumers as well as inflicting a negative effect on the relations between both countries.

VASEP, as well as American organizations and individuals, have time and again proved that the success of tra and basa fish fillets in the U.S. market is not at all attributable to dumping, but is the result of Vietnamese businesses providing high quality products at reasonable prices that appeal to the tastes of U.S. consumers. After almost a year of investigation, DOC experts have reviewed voluminous information on the competitive advantage of Vietnamese businesses, which is reflected in the companies’ integrated production process from the raising of fingerlings and fish to the processing of frozen tra and basa fish fillets. If the case is objectively considered on the basis of such factual evidence, then the DOC must come to the conclusion that Vietnamese exporters have not engaged in dumping at all and the U.S. International Trade Commission will find that the U.S. catfish industry is not injured or threatened to be injured by imports of frozen basa and tra fillets from Vietnam.

The U.S. catfish farmers should understand that antidumping measures would only provide limited protection to uncompetitive industries. With increasingly internationalized commercial relations, the correct approach is to develop efforts on technology and reasonable investment and to cooperate with each other to develop markets. VASEP believes that products with high quality and competitive price will definitely overcome any challenges to their competitive position in the U.S. marketplace and other markets in the world as well.

VASEP and its members have cooperated in good faith and hope that DOC will respect the spirit of commercial freedom as confirmed in the letter from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Government of Vietnam. VASEP calls upon the U.S. government agencies to apply an impartial and objective attitude in the next phases of the case to develop the commercial relations between both countries on the basis of the fundamental principles of free trade and the spirit of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement.

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung
VASEP General Secretary
seaqipd@netnam.org.vn