Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Catfish Farmers’ Livelihood under Threat from US trade sanctions

In August 8th, 2002. ActionAid Vietnam, held a press conference to disseminate findings of a research on catfish farmers and traders from Mekong Delta. Such research has been conducted by a group of staff from ActionAid Vietnam, Vietnam Fisheries Association, Vietnam Farmers Association and VASC Orient on-line news. The context was the legal case filed by American Catfish Farmers Association (CFA) against members of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the possible loss of livelihood of some 100,000 people that depend on catfish farming.

The team that interacted with the farmers and traders strongly refute that the charge of dumping Tra and Basa fish into US market. For example, the cost of production of raising Tra fish is 10,636-dong pre Kg only. Since the production cost is low, farmers raising catfish in An Giang, Vinh Long (and other provinces) make profit from it. The poor people and the traders cannot afford to lower the export price and suffer from it.

The findings of the research conclude that the allegation made by the CFA against VASEP members for dumping and the farmers for unhygienic farming conditions are not based on facts on the ground. The quality standards maintained through regular checks by responsible agencies, quality assurance by ISO 900 and so on. People themselves commented if the conditions were so bad then fish would have suffered, we people eating fish everyday for so long would have suffered and the consumers in USA, EU, Japan would have taken ill- but we have not felt or heard anything to this effect’.

The poor people living on catfish farming are deeply concerned about the various allegations made against them and the catfish trade. They strongly oppose various allegation and practices that will result into loss of their means of livelihood and their rights to food. They further demand that any person or agencies that aim for resurgence of a misunderstanding between people of Vietnam and USA and trade barriers against the intentions of USBTA should be strongly opposed especially when people in Mekong Delta are slowly trying to forget the vagaries of American War.

People further demand that the US government should assist and support the Vietnamese government’s efforts to integrate better with the international economy and not hinder it by creating trade barriers.

The research team fully supports the people’s views and recommendations that ITC should see the true reasons and not jeopardize the livelihood of 100,000 people and their rights to food by making the wrong decisions.


For more information, please contact:

1. Hoang Phuong Thao-Coordinator Food Rights Campaign”
ActionAid Vietnam, 521 Kim Ma, Hanoi
Tel: 84-4 771 7692, fax: 84-4 771 7693
Email: thao@aaviet.netnam.vn

2. Bui Van Thuong- Vice General Secretary
Central Office of Vietnam Fishery Association,
10th Nguyen Cong Hoan, Hanoi
Tel: 84-4 771 739, fax: 84-4 771 6702

3. Le Anh Tuan- Expert, Economic Board
Vietnam Farmer Association
103 Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Tel: 8431000

4. Tran My Hanh- Project Officer, Policy research and communication,
Oxfam Hong Kong, La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can, Hanoi
Tel: 84-48328076, fax:84-48328134
Email: hanh@oxfamhk.netnam.vn

5. Ha Le Yen –Correspondent, reporter
VASC Orient
4th Da Tuong, Hanoi
Tel: 84-4942 0798, fax:84-49420796
Email: Yenhl@vasc.com

Press release of VASEP:

The Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) on Friday, August 9th also issued a press release on the August 8 decision by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to allow US catfish farmers to proceed with their anti-dumping lawsuit against Vietnamese exporters and producers.

The press release said: "VASEP calls on the ITC and the US Department of Commerce (DOC) to make a decision conforming with the reality and the spirit of the Vietnam-US bilateral trade agreement, and the principle of equal competition in international trade, thus establishing a foundation for the development of bilateral trade for mutual benefit".

"We deeply regret that the commission has not disallowed the lawsuit because it thought imported fish could pose a threat to the US catfish industry in the future," VASEP said in the press release.

As the ITC decision opens the way for further investigation of the case, the DOC will launch a full investigation to examine evident of dumping as stipulated by US law.

VASEP affirmed that its members and the US law firm White & Case are ready to co-operate in the upcoming investigation process to prove that the Vietnamese tra and basa producers and exporters are not engaging in "dumping" practices. (VNA)