Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(06/18/2003 -- 22:34GMT+7)

Ha Noi, June 18 (VNA) - The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has discontented with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)'s final determination on the anti-dumping rate levied on Viet Nam's frozen "tra" and "basa" fillets.

DOC's unfair determination, which aims to levy an anti-dumping rate of between 36.84 and 63.88 percent on Viet Nam's catfish exporters, will prevent the country's importation of "tra" and "basa" catfish from Viet Nam and will affect the life tens of thousands of households involved in aquaculture in the Mekong delta, VASEP added.

VASEP reaffirmed its member enterprises did not dump frozen "tra" and "basa" fillets in the U.S. market, stressing that Viet Nam's success was never the results of dumping. In fact, Vietnamese enterprises have offered U.S. customers with high-quality and nutritious products at competitive prices.

The association and its member enterprises have shown goodwill and closely worked with DOC in its investigation over the anti-dumping lawsuit, VASEP emphasised, hoping that DOC's determination will be based on real data.

Since the Viet Nam-U.S. bilateral trade agreement was signed, the Vietnamese people have hoped that the bilateral relations will help heal the wounds of the war and strengthen and fasten the two countries' ties. However, VASEP and its member enterprises show their concern over DOC's unfair determination which will negatively impact the two countries' trade ties.

Once again, VASEP emphasised its determination to follow the lawsuit. It called on the U.S. International Trade Commission to announce its decision in commensurate with the reality that importing Viet Nam's catfish fillets will never threaten the U.S. catfish sector.