Can Tho (VNA) – PromotingVietnamese seafood exports to China was the main focus of a workshop held bythe Vietnam Pangasius Association (VPA) and China’s Yuexi fisheries associationin the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 18.
Vo Hung Dung, VPA Vice President,said Vietnam’s seafood export value to China rose from about 400 million USD in2014 to 1.8 billion USD in 2017, helping China surpass the US to become thecountry’s biggest seafood importer.
However, he pointed out thepossibility of ending contracts ahead of schedule, thus putting Vietnamesebusinesses at risk.
Therefore, it is necessary to becautious while stepping up exports to this market, the official stressed.
Cen Jian, a representative of theYuexi fisheries association, suggested Vietnamese seafood firms ship theirproducts via official channels to avoid the risk, protecting the interests ofboth exporters and importers.
Ta Minh Phu, President of the BacLieu Seafood Association, raised concerns regarding China’s incentives and taxpolicies for Vietnamese aquatic products.
In reply, the Chinese side saidVietnamese seafood businesses enjoy a preferential import tax rate of zeropercent for the whole year, which is a great advantage for Vietnam comparedwith the rate of 2.5 percent imposed on Malaysia and Indonesia.
Tran Thanh Phong, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the VPA, said his association will implement five groups ofsolutions to promote exports to the Chinese market.
The association aims to successfullymaterialise the Vietnam-China border trade agreement, set up trade links withGuangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong, utilise incentives fro the ASEAN-ChinaAgreement, urge China to remove technical barriers in the sector and intensifytrade promotion through exhibitions and fairs.
On this occasion, the Chinese sidereleased information about a seafood fair in Zhanjiang city from June 18-20, 2018,which is expected to draw about 200 businesses.
Participating Vietnamese firms willbe exempt from all costs and provided with market information, they said.-VNA