VN Seafood Exports Encounter Numerous Barriers

Vietnamese seafood exporters are facing innumerable difficulties as overseas markets are imposing a variety of trade barriers and challenges, including levying anti-dumping tariffs on imports from Vietnam.

Among the most significant challenges are the European Union (EU)’s anti-dumping measures from the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), and the US’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Vo Hung Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s Can Tho branch, said apart from major markets, some regional countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia are also putting anti-dumping pressures on Vietnamese exports.Additionally, the US is likely to reopen and reinvestigate its anti-dumping lawsuits against Vietnamese tra fish, causing great losses to local exporters.

“It is essential to support businesses and set up technical groups to deal with lawsuits. Moreover, businesses should pay particular attention to evaluating their production situation and studying the export market carefully to avoid anti-dumping lawsuits” he noted.

Dung also suggested Vietnamese businesses raise their competitiveness both in price and product quality. Cultivation methods should be adjusted to ensure food safety, he said, adding chemicals should be banned in post-harvest and the preservation process.

July 21, 2014

Source: businesstimes.com.vn