War on trade: Vietnam files WTO complaint against the US
Vietnam filed a complaint with World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the US, citing USDA for its program of targeting catfish inspections which are seen as an illegal barrier to trade. Hanoi officials have mentioned that they are willing to engage in bilateral talks to resolve the issue.
USDA recently implemented a program that imposes a double check on imported pangasius from the Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration, informs Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). "Shipments of pangasius from Vietnam to the United States have long been unfairly targeted for trade restrictions by United States producers of like products. These exports by Vietnamese producers are now subject to laws, rules, administrative practices, and related actions of the United States that, without a sufficient scientific basis, are restricting the trade in this product, which is of substantial significance to the Vietnamese economy, and which also provides a substantial benefit to United States consumers as a healthy and affordable source of food and of protein", says the document.
The USDA officially took over control of the catfish inspection program last September after an 18-month transition period. The 2008 Farm Bill amended the U.S. Federal Meat Inspection Act to put monitoring of domestic catfish under the purview of the USDA. The 2014 Farm Bill amended the act further to include imported pangasius fish. To continue exporting fish into the U.S., countries were required to show documentation that their inspection system met U.S. standards.
Nevertheless, the situation will end in 2019 as the USDA budget request for the next year shows that the Farm Bill authorizations will be repealed and that catfish inspection will return under the sole auspices of the FDA. The USDA said it was one of several programs it sought to eliminate in order to reduce spending.
Still, the catfish issue is not the only dispute between Vietnam and the US taken to WTO. Last month, the Southeast Asian nation filed a complaint about anti-dumping regulations and determinations regarding fish fillets. In addition, the two nations have had disputes regarding shrimp.
(Photo source: WTO)
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