“If, despite the House of Representatives vote to repeal the USDA program this summer, the United States insists on putting the program into place, our Government will have no choice but to consider available remedies,” a draft letter by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang states.
The letter also says the catfish program could affect ongoing TransPacific Trade talks with the U.S.
“The promise of deepened commercial relations, we believe, has been and will continue to be a major incentive for both the United States and Vietnam to support the Trans- Pacific Partnership,” the letter states.
“The USDA program threatens to reverse this progress and falls short of the spirit of the newly formed Vietnam - U.S. Comprehensive Partnership announced by our two Presidents in July. Our Government is unwilling to sit by as this program is implemented, and thereby lose access to the United States market, when the program so clearly violates America’s WTO obligations and when the product in question makes such an important contribution to Vietnam’s rural economy,” the ministers add.
A source at the Vietnamese Embassy said that the letter had not been sent yet and “may not be sent.”
The draft was originally sent to reporters and hailed by a spokesman for the National Fisheries Institute, the nation's largest seafood trade association and an opponent of the catfish inspection program.
The U.S. Agriculture Department catfish program is supported by domestic catfish growers and Southern members of Congress. They argue that a separate inspection program is needed because the Food and Drug Administration cannot handle the inspections.
The House voted to end the separate USDA program but the Senate did not consider an amendment to do so this year.
Vietnam argues the separate program is just being set up as a barrier to discourage imports of Vietnamese pangasius.
According to Vietnam Customs, the export of value-added pangasius in the first eight months of 2024 has been evaluated as quite positive, with continuous growth in many major markets such as the United States, CPTPP, and the Netherlands...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Department of Fisheries of Ca Mau province coordinated with the School of Fisheries under Can Tho University to organize training courses on high-tech shrimp farming for 120 people in processors, cooperatives and families that are raising intensive and super-intensive shrimp in the province.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Soc Trang province plans to expand its shrimp farming area from over 50,000 hectares to 57,000 hectares by 2025, aiming for a production of 233,800 tons and maintaining a $1 billion export value. The project will establish 45 climate-resilient shrimp farming models and ensure all farms meet aquaculture standards for traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In July 2024, Vietnam's fish cake and surimi exports declined. The export value reached just over 24 million USD, down 3% over the same period. In the first 7 months of 2024, the cumulative export of this product group reached 152 million USD, down 13%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap is a key region for pangasius farming, boasting the largest production in the Mekong Delta. In the first seven months of 2024, the estimated aquaculture area reached 4,778 hectares, with a harvest yield of 307,336 tons. Of this, the intensive pangasius farming area covered 2,042 hectares, with a harvest of 252,670 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in the first half of August 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the EU reached nearly 8 million USD, up 57% over the same period. Cumulative pangasius exports to this market as of August 15, 2024, reached 107 million USD, up 0.5% over the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Board of Directors of International Development & Investment Corporation (IDI) is confident of completing this year's profit plan in the context of gradually recovering demand for pangasius in China and Mexico.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Some farmers in Soc Trang province have successfully applied a balanced biological shrimp farming technique, which eliminates the use of chemicals to minimize environmental impacts. This is a model of farming that adapts to climate change.
8 finalists have been named in the best new seafood product competition to be awarded at Seafood Expo Asia, taking place 4 to 6 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
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