Hanoi (VNA) – The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under theMinistry of Industry and Trade has sent a consultation letter to the Philippines’Department of Trade and Industry asking it to exclude Vietnam from threesafeguard investigations on some steel products.

In the letter, the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam expressed concern aboutthe Philippines’ initiation of three safeguard investigations on steel productsimported into the country, including aluminium zinc sheets, coils and strips,pre-painted galvanished iron and pre-painted aluminium zinc, and galvanishediron sheets, coils and strips.

Vietnam also asked the Philippines to strictly abide by rules for safeguard investigationsand imposition of trade defence measures in accordance with the World Trade Organisation’s safeguardagreement.

In addition, the Philippines needed to use the most updated import date when analysingand assessing the injuries caused by the imports on its domestic industry.

According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, the Philippines’ importsof the products from Vietnam are not considerable and it is eligible forVietnam to be excluded from safeguard measures following the WTO’s rules.

The agency will continue to cooperate with the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines,the Vietnamese Trade Office in the Philippines, the Vietnam Steel Associationand producers to keep a close watch on the investigations to protect thelegitimate rights of Vietnamese producers and exporters./.