Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Jan. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's foreign ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh on Tuesday lashed out at the Jan. 27 decision of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) pertaining to the petition filed by the Catfish Farmers of America (CFA) against Viet Nam's frozen "Tra" and "Basa" fish fillets exported to the US market.

"Viet Nam deeply regrets this decision and cannot accept it," Thanh said, while responding to reporters' queries about Viet Nam's reaction to the DOC's decision.

The spokeswoman described the decision as "unilateral" and "unfair" and "turning a blind eye to Viet Nam's practical situation".

"It should be stressed that the decision demonstrates increasingly high protectionism of domestic production in the United States, running counter to its policy of encouraging trade liberalisation and international economic integration," Thanh said.

"Such a decision is also contrary to the Viet Nam-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA)," she said, adding "It will cause more difficulties and losses to Viet Nam's enterprises and a large number of its seafood producers, as well as to American consumers."

The spokeswoman also requested the US to consider this decision in an objective and fair manner in order to prevent any effects on the development of the equal and mutually-beneficial cooperative ties between the two countries.