The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has protested the US Department of Commerce (DOC)’s acceptance of the petition against Vietnamese frozen warm-water shrimp which contain unreasonable allegations.

According to VASEP, the lawsuit, initiated by the Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries (COGSI), is a kind of unhealthy competition and is groundless. It will pose negative impacts on Vietnamese shrimp exporters and producers, as well as US exporters and consumers, while negatively affecting bilateral trade relations between Vietnam and the US .

If a countervailing duty (CVD) rate is adopted following the lawsuit, it will be a strong blow for both shrimp importers and producers in the US and seafood farmers and enterprises in the seven involved countries, including Vietnam , it said.

VASEP pointed out that the COGSI lawsuit, which only represents 10 percent of shrimp suppliers in the US, is totally unreasonable.

COGSI’s accusations demonstrated illogical and unscientific comparison and arguments relating to the prices of domestic caught shrimp and imported farmed shrimp, added VASEP.

VASEP affirmed that caught and farmed shrimps are different products, which are produced in different conditions. They also have different quality and target different consumers. Therefore, the two products do not compete with each other in the market, so they cannot be subject to the lawsuit, the association stated.

The prices of imported shrimp from the seven countries involved in the lawsuit are lower because of the favourable natural conditions, with standardised fishing and breeding processes, said VASEP, adding that US importers and processors increasingly import shrimps from other countries because they ensure stable supply for big and long-term orders and are able to meet a variety of processing requirements.

Vietnam, China, India, Ecuador, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are involved in the lawsuit./.VNA