The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has set up a panel to investigate a complaint by the Vietnamese government that American anti-dumping duties are detrimental to its shrimp exports, reports Michael Mackey.
It is the first time that the South East Asian nation has used the WTO’s procedures since it joined the body in January 2007 and comes after a period of negotiation between the two countries failed.
The WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body has set up a jury to consider Vietnam’s complaint that tariffs of between 4.13 and 25.76% levied on its shrimp was unfair and seriously harms its exporters.
Some other countries have said they join the move as third parties.
According estimates from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep), Vietnam exported 190,000 tonnes of shrimp in 2009 with the US, Japan, South Korea and China the main markets.
Of these the US is said to be the second largest with imports valued at $395 million (€313.8 million) last year, down 15.4% from the year before but still a quarter of the exported shrimp’s value.
Tran Thi Thu Hang, deputy permanent representative of Vietnam’s mission to the WTO, said Vietnam looks forward to resolving the dispute at any time and will follow it until the judicial review.
