Thailand
Vietnam files WTO complaint on US pangasius inspections
The Hanoitimes – Vietnam has launched a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge United States (US) restrictions on imports of pangasius seafood from Vietnam.
The complaint said pangasius fish was economically significant for Vietnam and was a healthy and affordable source of protein for US consumers, but that the US was unfairly restricting it without a sufficient scientific basis, Reuters cited a WTO filing as saying.
Under WTO rules, Vietnam could ask for adjudication of the dispute if the United States does not settle it within 60 days.
Vietnam in January also complained to the WTO of US anti-dumping measures against its exports of fish fillets, saying Washington had broken WTO rules in the way it had imposed punitive tariffs on Vietnamese fish it claims are being “dumped, or sold at an unfairly cheap price” on the US market.
The Vietnamese complaint was the fourth dispute initiated by Vietnam since it joined the WTO in 2007.
Many Vietnamese exporters are also seeking new markets for their pangasius (tra) fish to substitute the United States.
Hang Van, Deputy Director of Truong Giang Fisheries Joint Stock Company in the southern province of Dong Thap, said that in the past few years, when the US imposed a high anti-dumping duty, many businesses have moved their exports to other markets.
“Notably, in South Asia, Pakistan and India are quite potential markets for Vietnamese pangasius fish,” Van said. “Pakistan currently accounts for about 10 per cent of the company’s exports.”
According to Van, pangasius fish exporters could focus on promoting exports to Indian market, the world’s second-largest in terms of population. The Indian consumers have initially accepted tra fish products.
“However, the import tax of tra fish in India is still too high, up to 70 – 80 per cent, so that importers do not dare to import much,” said Van. “In the coming time, if the two governments enhance trade co-operation and reduce import taxes, Viet Nam’s tra consumption market will be very large.”
Song Tien Seafood JSC and Ngoc Xuan Seafood JSC in the southern province of Tien Giang are also seeking ways to export their products to non-US markets, including the EU, China and Middle East.
Nguyen Thi Anh, the head of both businesses mentioned above, said her companies have been accessed a number of new markets, such as the Middle East, South America and China since last year.
“As for the EU market, it has been still the strategic market of businesses for many years, accounting for about 60 – 70 per cent of the total exports,” said Anh. “To keep the stable volume of customers in this market, the company has focused on investment, ensuring product quality from raw materials to processing.”
Therefore, although the company does not export tra fish to the US, its export turnover is stable and growing, Anh added.
Insiders also said that Vinh Hoan—one of the three leading Vietnamese companies exporting tra fish to the US—are focusing on exploiting newly-emerged markets.
Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam, General Director of Vinh Hoan Corporation, said the company had recently developed new markets. It is especially focusing on value-added products.
Tam said the company had installed a production line of grilled tra fish products marinated in teriyaki, a Japanese cooking technique, for export to Japan. After years of development efforts, Japanese consumers have started accepting freshwater fish products.
“If businesses focus on product quality control, this will be a potential market for Viet Nam’s tra industry in Asia, just after China,” said Tam.
Vietnam in January also complained to the WTO of US anti-dumping measures against its exports of fish fillets, saying Washington had broken WTO rules in the way it had imposed punitive tariffs on Vietnamese fish it claims are being “dumped, or sold at an unfairly cheap price” on the US market.
The Vietnamese complaint was the fourth dispute initiated by Vietnam since it joined the WTO in 2007.
Many Vietnamese exporters are also seeking new markets for their pangasius (tra) fish to substitute the United States.
Hang Van, Deputy Director of Truong Giang Fisheries Joint Stock Company in the southern province of Dong Thap, said that in the past few years, when the US imposed a high anti-dumping duty, many businesses have moved their exports to other markets.
“Notably, in South Asia, Pakistan and India are quite potential markets for Vietnamese pangasius fish,” Van said. “Pakistan currently accounts for about 10 per cent of the company’s exports.”
According to Van, pangasius fish exporters could focus on promoting exports to Indian market, the world’s second-largest in terms of population. The Indian consumers have initially accepted tra fish products.
“However, the import tax of tra fish in India is still too high, up to 70 – 80 per cent, so that importers do not dare to import much,” said Van. “In the coming time, if the two governments enhance trade co-operation and reduce import taxes, Viet Nam’s tra consumption market will be very large.”
Song Tien Seafood JSC and Ngoc Xuan Seafood JSC in the southern province of Tien Giang are also seeking ways to export their products to non-US markets, including the EU, China and Middle East.
Nguyen Thi Anh, the head of both businesses mentioned above, said her companies have been accessed a number of new markets, such as the Middle East, South America and China since last year.
“As for the EU market, it has been still the strategic market of businesses for many years, accounting for about 60 – 70 per cent of the total exports,” said Anh. “To keep the stable volume of customers in this market, the company has focused on investment, ensuring product quality from raw materials to processing.”
Therefore, although the company does not export tra fish to the US, its export turnover is stable and growing, Anh added.
Insiders also said that Vinh Hoan—one of the three leading Vietnamese companies exporting tra fish to the US—are focusing on exploiting newly-emerged markets.
Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam, General Director of Vinh Hoan Corporation, said the company had recently developed new markets. It is especially focusing on value-added products.
Tam said the company had installed a production line of grilled tra fish products marinated in teriyaki, a Japanese cooking technique, for export to Japan. After years of development efforts, Japanese consumers have started accepting freshwater fish products.
“If businesses focus on product quality control, this will be a potential market for Viet Nam’s tra industry in Asia, just after China,” said Tam.
Source: http://www.hanoitimes.vn/economy/2018/03/81E0C272/vietnam-files-wto-complaint-on-us-pangasius-inspections/