Vietnam hopes its catfish exports to the US will enjoy a zero tax rate when the US announces the results of the POR14, slated for April 20.

The European Union (EU) was the largest market of Vietnamese shrimp in the first two months of 2019, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Entrepreneurs (VASEP).

The US has exempted anti-dumping tariffs for 31 shrimp exporters of Viet Nam in the 13th period of review (POR 13), according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Although the DOC’s announcement of zero-percent antidumping tariffs on 31 Vietnamese shrimp exporters is just a preliminary decision, the transparency of Vietnamese businesses has been proven, an official has said.

As many as 31 shrimp exporters of Vietnam to the US have been exempted from anti-dumping tariffs, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) on April 10.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has been advised to increase  catfish output to force prices down, to improve competitiveness over other countries. However, this solution has stirred controversy.

Many seafood companies’ products, which can satisfy high standards to enter the US, EU and Japan, cannot be sold in the domestic market because of technical barriers.

The shortcomings in the Vietnam seafood industry have been exaggerated by foreign media, placing obstacles on domestic seafood exports.

VietNamNet Bridge - Economists have warned that the Vietnam economy will “bear a lot of damage from the US-China trade war”.

VietNamNet Bridge - Seafood companies complain that retailers are playing tricks to dislodge their products out of supermarket chains.

If the US-China trade war escalates, Vietnam would have opportunities to boost exports to both markets. Meanwhile, the US is considering allowing Vietnam to continue exporting catfish to the country.

VietNamNet Bridge - Seafood companies are concerned as the year-end and Tet sale season nears, the doors to supermarkets are closed to their products.

VietNamNet Bridge - Over the last 20 years, catfish has been the exclusive product of Vietnam. But other countries are stepping up catfish production, becoming rivals for Vietnam.

Vietnam’s catfish has run into trouble in several EU countries because of misleading information in the media. 

The US initiated Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), to take effect from December 31, has created significant challenges for shrimp exporters.

VietNamNet Bridge - The currencies of many countries have depreciated sharply against the dollar, thus affecting the competitiveness of Vietnam’s goods.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese businesses have been reportedly tricked by foreign partners from Morocco, Canada, New Zealand and the US recently.

Both catfish and shrimp are meeting difficulties in exports because of the shrinking market. However, while catfish farmers still can make a profit, farmers of white-legged shrimp cannot.

High anti-dumping tariff and the US Seafood Import Monitoring Programme (SIMP) are now key barriers facing Vietnamese shrimp exporters. 

Vietnamese exporters have been warned that it will be more difficult to export products to the US as the US administration has increased local production protection and tightened control over imports.