The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced the preliminary anti-dumping tax rate for Vietnamese honey. The general tax rate imposed on all honey exporters from Vietnam is 412.49%, which doubles the rate of 207% initially proposed by the American Honey Manufacturers Association.

Four other countries including Brazil, India, Ukraine and Argentina are also on the list of countries subject to honey export tax, but Vietnamese honey has the highest rate.

Although this is just a preliminary ruling, the decision of the US Department of Commerce has seriously affected honey exporting firms and workers in the field of beekeeping in Vietnam.

Vietnam and the US are discussing a fairer tax rate for Vietnamese businesses.

Each year, the US beekeeping industry produces less than 100,000 tons of honey so it has to import more than 200,000 tons from other countries. Vietnamese honey accounts for about a quarter of the market for imported honey in the US.

According to the US customs agency, Vietnam exported 50,700 tons of honey to the US in 2020, accounting for about 25.8% of this country's total honey imports.

The country’s total honey production is about 57,000 tons/year. Up to 90% of honey output is for export, of which 95% to the US market. In the first nine months of 2021, Vietnam's honey export revenue reached US$83 million, over 65% up year on year.

Anh Tuan

Vietnamese products at risk of trade violation investigations

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) have warned that Vietnamese products are at risking of falling foul of anti-dumping and trade defence investigations.