The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) has
decided to launch a case against the US Department of Commerce (DOC)
via the US International Trade Commission (ITC) over its imposition of
duties on Vietnam s warm-water shrimp.
According to the
DOC’s decision reached during its eighth period of review from February
1, 2012 to January 31, 2013, the high level of tariffs is to be applied
to 32 Vietnamese shrimp exporters. The duties will be 4.98 percent for
Minh Phu Seafood Co. Ltd; 9.75 percent for Soc Trang Seafood JSC and
6.37 percent for 30 other companies.
VASEP Vice President
Nguyen Huu Dung said the tariff levels that DOC is planning to apply to
Vietnamese shrimp exporters are irrational. According to Dung, the
tariff calculation was based on outdated data, adding that this went
against the US ’ Anti-Dumping Duty Law.
To justify his
point, Dung cited the case of Bangladesh , in which the DOC used data
from 2003 to calculate anti-dumping duties.
He said the DOC should use the most up-to-date data, which was more transparent and in line with the US ’ laws.
According to Dung, 31 shrimp exporters lodged a joint complaint with
the US ITC on September 29. The businesses will follow the case
carefully and submit their arguments in the lead-up to the 9th period
of review.
Dung urged shrimp exporters to manage their supply chains better and seek new markets.
During the first eight months of this year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports
to the US totalled 700 million USD in value, up by 80 percent compared
to the same period last year./.