(VOVworld)-The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) has urged the US Department of Commerce (DOC) to reconsider its preliminary decision to impose anti-subsidy tariffs on frozen shrimp imported from Vietnam.
In its a press communiqué released on May 31, the VASEP opposed the preliminary results of an anti-subsidy lawsuit against Vietnamese frozen shrimp exported to the US.
Earlier on May 29, the DOC announced its initial decision to impose anti-subsidy tariff of 6.07% on Vietnamese frozen shrimp. Therefore, products from the Minh Phu Company are subject to a 5.08% anti-subsidy duty while the rate for Nha Trang Seafood is 7.05%.
In addition to anti-dumping tariffs already in place, Vietnamese frozen shrimp now have another unreasonable duty, the anti-subsidy tariff, imposed upon them.
The press communiqué stated that the law suit’s preliminary decision to impose the additional tariff is unfair because Vietnamese businesses are operating according to a market mechanism and do not receive any State subsidies.
The decision has adversely affected Vietnamese exports to the US as well as the lives of more than 600 workers, processors and exporters in Vietnam.
The VASEP has called upon the DOC reconsider the decision and give judicial opinions during the next investigation to acknowledge that the Vietnamese shrimp sector does not receive subsidies.
Truong Dinh Hoe, VASEP General Secretary, said that when the preliminary decision was issued, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US were required to deposit the amount of the new duty while awaiting the final decision, which will be made in late September: “Businesses and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors will continue asking the DOC to reconsider its decision. In planned mid-June fact-finding tour of Vietnamese shrimp producers, a DOC delegation will work with relevant agencies on issues related to the decision before making a final judgment. If they agree that Vietnamese shrimp should not have anti-subsidies applied to them, the lawsuit will end.”
Along with Vietnam, China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are also subject to new anti-subsidy duties.