VietNamNet Bridge – The recent decision of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) to choose Indonesia as the sole benchmark country to calculate the anti-dumping rate on frozen tra fish fillets imported from Viet Nam is not fair and objective.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement at a press briefing in Ha Noi on Thursday.

He said that issues relevant to the trade relations between the two countries need to be considered in a fair and unbiased manner and in accordance with the World Trade Organization’s regulations.

The decision is part of the final results of the 8th Administrative Review of the antidumping duty order on Certain Catfish Filets from Viet Nam, which was announced by DOC on March 14.

Previously Bangladesh which shares many similarities with Viet Nam in breeding standards and input costs, was the benchmark country.

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said it would go to court to demand DOC change the decision.

Lao dong (Labor) newspaper quoted VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe as saying in a March 17 interview that the DOC’s decision is extremely unfair, which affects not only Vietnam’s seafood export to the US market but also harms US consumers as they would have to buy seafood products at much higher prices.

Source: VGP