The US Department of Commerce has decided to cut anti-dumping tariffs it had imposed on 31 Vietnamese shrimp exporters by 0.01-0.69 percentage points.
The move followed feedback to the department's fourth administrative review conducted between February 2008 and January 2009 of shrimp imported into the US by Nha Trang Seafood Joint Stock Co, Minh Phu Seafood Co, and Minh Hai Seafood Co.
Under the revised tariffs, the duty on shrimps imported by Nha Trang will be reduced from a maximum on 5.58 per cent to 4.89 per cent. Minh Phu will see a reduction of 0.01 per cent to 2.95 per cent, while the others will be subject to a duty of 3.92 per cent, reduced from the previous 4.27 per cent.
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) continued to complain, however, that Vietnamese companies were subject to higher duties than Indian exporters, which paid duties no higher than 4.44 per cent.
Last April, Viet Nam asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body to set up a panel to review US anti-dumping measures imposed on frozen warm-water shrimp from Viet Nam. WTO general director Pascal Lamy recently appointed three members to the panel.
After six months, the panel was expected to make a final report, clearing the way for further legal action between the parties. If it proceeds, this would constitute Viet Nam's first trade lawsuit against a WTO member
