Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Nov. 13 (VNA) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)'s conclusion that Viet Nam's economy is a non-market one is extremely unreasonable, said Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu.

Tu, who has just been appointed as General Secretary of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation and Head of the Government delegation for international negotiations on economic-commercial affairs, described the U.S. DOC's conclusion as unfavourable for Viet Nam in the lawsuit filed by the U.S. who accused that Vietnamese enterprises had sold "Tra" and "Basa" catfish at dumping prices in the U.S. market.

If Viet Nam is considered as a non-market economy, it will be applicable to production cost rates imposed on a third country having the same conditions like India or a country in Africa, the deputy minister elaborated.

He noted that as compared to many East European countries which were recognised as market economies by the U.S., Viet Nam has gone further in applying the market mechanism.

"Every government interferes into its economy, directly or indirectly and to some extent. For instance, the U.S.'s decisions on supporting agriculture with 180 billion USD and increasing steel import duties to protect U.S. businesses serve as an action deeply interfering into the market," the deputy minister stressed.

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Ha Noi, Nov. 13 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has protested against the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. DOC) conclusion that Viet Nam's economy is a non-market one.

The fisheries authority made it clear in a Nov. 11 press release that the U.S. DOC conclusion has failed to reflect the real developments of the Vietnamese economy. It said the U.S. DOC mission has failed to fully consider every aspect of precise reports prepared by the Vietnamese Government, VASEP and a number of businesses from the United States itself and other countries, which are operating in Viet Nam.

In its analysis, the U.S. DOC was unable to prove that the Vietnamese economy carries less market-based factors than those economies which have been recognised by the U.S. DOC as a market economy, the VASEP emphasised.

The U.S. DOC should consider the lawsuit in a transparent and fair way as it has repeatedly pledged to the Vietnamese authorities, demanded the VASEP in reference to the lawsuit filed by American farmers against Viet Nam's dumping Tra and Basa catfish in the U.S. market.

The VASEP itself has pledged to cooperate with its members to fulfil their duties and responsibilities in the following steps of the lawsuit in an effort to protect the legitimate rights of relevant businesses and dozens of thousands of farmers raising "tra" and "basa" catfish in Viet Nam.--Enditem