December 27, 2007

US lifts administrative review on Vietnamese catfish exporters

The US association of catfish farmers and processors involved in the anti-dumping lawsuit against Vietnamese tra and basa catfish exporters have requested to remove the fourth administrative review on 27 Vietnamese companies, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

VASEP said US law firm, Akin Gump Straus Hauer & Feld LLp, has sent a letter to the US Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to inform him of this move.

The Department of Commerce (DOC) will conduct an administrative review of tra and basa exports to the US by Vietnamese companies between August 1, 2006 and July 31, 2007.

The 27 Vietnamese companies included Afiex An Giang; Agifish; Anvifish Co., Ltd; Basa Co., Ltd; Cataco; Caseamex; Cafatex; Caseafood; CL-Fish Co., Ltd; Seaprodex Da Nang; Coseafex; East Sea Seafoods Joint Venture Co., Ltd; Gepimex 404; Hai Nam, Hai Vuong, Hoan An, Hung Vuong, Kim Anh; Mekongfish; Nam Viet (NAVICO); Ngoc Thai; South Vina; Vietnam Fish-One Co., Ltd; Vinh Hoan (Dong Thap); Vinh Hoan Corporation; Imex Cuu Long and Vinh Quang Fisheries Corporation.

Companies named on the August 31, 2007 list will still be subject to the fourth review.

The US catfish group have filed a suit against Vietnamese tra and basa catfish producers five years ago, resulting to the DOC¡¯s decision to impose anti-dumping tax rates on Vietnamese exporters.

The suit also prompted the DOC to conduct an administrative review of named exporters, which decides appropriate tax rates for the companies.

Despite the anti-dumping tax rates imposed on exports to the US, Vietnam is still able to export a large volume of catfish globally, with revenue expected to hit US$1 billion in 2007.

The demand for catfish keeps increasing on the world market as exports resumed in Russia, the second biggest market for Vietnam¡¯s tra and basa catfish, after settling its food hygiene problems were settled.

In the first three quarters of 2007, the EU remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese tra and basa, consuming 46.2 percent in terms of quantity and 49 percent in terms of export turnover. Russia is the second biggest export market for Vietnam¡¯s catfish, followed by ASEAN countries, the US, Ukraine and Mexico.