The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) hasprotested the US Department of Commerce (DOC)’s acceptance of thepetition against Vietnamese frozen warm-water shrimp which containunreasonable allegations.

According to VASEP, thelawsuit, initiated by the Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industries (COGSI),is a kind of unhealthy competition and is groundless. It will posenegative impacts on Vietnamese shrimp exporters and producers, as wellas US exporters and consumers, while negatively affecting bilateraltrade relations between Vietnam and the US .

If a countervailing duty (CVD) rate is adopted following the lawsuit,it will be a strong blow for both shrimp importers and producers inthe US and seafood farmers and enterprises in the seven involvedcountries, including Vietnam , it said.

VASEPpointed out that the COGSI lawsuit, which only represents 10 percent ofshrimp suppliers in the US, is totally unreasonable.

COGSI’s accusations demonstrated illogical and unscientific comparisonand arguments relating to the prices of domestic caught shrimp andimported farmed shrimp, added VASEP.

VASEP affirmedthat caught and farmed shrimps are different products, which areproduced in different conditions. They also have different quality andtarget different consumers. Therefore, the two products do not competewith each other in the market, so they cannot be subject to the lawsuit,the association stated.

The prices of importedshrimp from the seven countries involved in the lawsuit are lowerbecause of the favourable natural conditions, with standardised fishingand breeding processes, said VASEP, adding that US importers andprocessors increasingly import shrimps from other countries because theyensure stable supply for big and long-term orders and are able to meet avariety of processing requirements.

Vietnam, China, India, Ecuador, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are involved in the lawsuit./.VNA