Vietnam opposes US anti-dumping tariffs on shrimp

Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesman has dismissed American anti-dumping taxes on Vietnamese shrimp as unfair and unreasonable.

Le Hai Binh said in a statement on Saturday that the tariffs violate free market principals, growing trade relationship between the two countries and a comprehensive bilateral partnership, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

“We affirm that Vietnamese companies are not dumping shrimp on the US market, not injuring or threatening or damaging to the American shrimp industry,” Binh said.

In March, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) ruled that Minh Phu Seafood Corporation and Soc Trang Seafood JSC in the Mekong Delta had dumped shrimp on the US market between February 2012 and January 2013.

The DOC subsequently imposed anti-dumping tariffs of 4.98 percent on Minh Phu’s products and 9.75 percent on the provincial trading company.

Another 30 voluntary defendants received an average tariff of 6.37 percent.

Tran Thien Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors, said the decision was rather surprising, compared to the March 2013 decision which found no evidence of dumping related to Vietnamese shrimp imports.

Binh also said in the statement that any trade activities between Vietnam and the US should be assessed fairly and objectively to protect the interests of Vietnamese farmers and exporters as well as US consumers and importers.

Source: thanhniennews.com