The US became Vietnam's top export market in recent years. (Photo: Minh Phu Seafood/Stock File)

DOC lowers shrimp exporters' anti-dumping tariffs

VIET NAM
Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

Thirty-one Vietnamese shrimp exporters will have their anti-dumping tariffs cut by 0.01-0.69 percentage points, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided.

This comes after the consideration of feedback to the DOC’s fourth administrative review run between February 2008 and January 2009 of shrimp imported through Nha Trang Seafood Joint Stock Co, Minh Phu Seafood Co and Minh Hai Seafood Co.

The duty on shrimps imported by Nha Trang will be slashed from a maximum of 5.58 per cent to 4.89 per cent, Minh Phu will have its duty cut by 0.01 per cent to 2.95 per cent and the remainder will be subjected to a duty of 3.92 per cent from the previous 4.27 per cent, Vietnam Net reports.

Three Vietnamese companies had noted mistakes in the DOC’s August decision and requested it review the anti-dumping tax rate, reports Nhan Dan.

However, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) continued to protest that Vietnamese companies have higher duties imposed on them compared to Indian exporters, whose duties do not exceed 4.44 per cent.

Due to such disparities, Vietnam asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body last April to establish a panel to review US anti-dumping measures enforced on Vietnamese frozen warm-water shrimp. Three members were recently appointed to the panel by WTO General Director Pascal Lamy.

The panel was expected to make a final report after six months, thus allowing for additional legal action between the US and Vietnam. If it ensues, this would be Vietnam’s first trade lawsuit against another WTO member.

Ambassador Vu Dung, head of Vietnam's delegation to the WTO and other international agencies in Geneva, led a delegation of officials from the Vietnamese ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade at a recent session at WTO headquarters to review US trade policies.

Vietnam wanted the US to reassess its imposition of anti-subsidy and anti-dumping tariffs prior to making any decisions that would impact other WTO members, Dung said.

The US became Vietnam's top export market in recent years at USD 11.5 billion worth of exports last year, or a fifth of the country’s total exports.

Related articles:

- Anti-dumping duty rates violate agreement: VASEP
- Anti-dumping tariffs raised on Vietnamese shrimp

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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