The New York Times is reporting that 10 nations in the region have complained to U.S. trade representatives that the program violates international law. The communication comes as the nations are working on negotiating a new Asia-Pacific trade deal with the United States.
According to the Times, the letter does not contain threats of any kind, but did indicate the dispute over the program is a roadblock to the negotiations.
The program, spelled out in a set of regulations that govern food production in the United States known as the Farm Bill, mandates that all catfish imports must be inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The mandate, first introduced to the bill in 2008, is a break from the traditional arrangement that requires all imported seafood be inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Converting to the new mandate has been expensive; critics estimate it has already cost American taxpayers USD 20 million, prompting protests from financial watchdog groups, the Obama Administration, the Government Accountability Office and high-profile politicians including U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Despite the protests, the U.S. catfish industry and Sen. Thad Cochrane, R-Miss., managed to keep the new mandate alive, even weathering an effort last year to quash the USDA inspection program.
Now, Gavin Gibbons, spokesman for the National Fisheries Institute, said the program is putting even non-seafood industries at risk.
"This latest development shows how serious this issue is," Gibbons told SeafoodSource. "A special interest handout to a few southern states has grown into one of the most reviled programs on Capitol Hill. And now, the Times finds, it’s jeopardizing a major American trade initiative. It’s not catfish producers who are going to be burned by this; it’s pork, beef, corn and soy exporters. As predicted, U.S. agriculture is the collateral damage from this boondoggle."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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