Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has welcomed the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s decision to revoke anti-dumping charge of 10% on shrimp products exported to the US from Minh Phu Seafood Corporation.

Processing shrimps for exports. Photo: Ha Vu

The move came following the CBP’s announcement on February 11 that there is a lack of evidence to conclude that Minh Phu has illegally evaded anti-dumping duties levied on Indian shrimps.

“The CBP has given a fair conclusion and taken into consideration efforts of all related parties in resolving the issue, in turn creating a healthy competitive environment among both US and foreign shrimp producers,” stated the MoIT.

According to the ministry, since the CBP’s launch of the investigation in October 2019, the local authorities have been working with the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and Minh Phu in clarifying the situation with the US sides.

In the coming time, the MoIT will continue to maintain frequent communication channels with its US peers in ensuring lawful rights of local compliant companies.

The MoIT suggested Vietnamese companies to set up clear origin tracing mechanism to better meet requirements from import markets.

The CBP previously initiated an investigation as a result of an allegation submitted by the Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Enforcement Committee (AHSTEC) on evasion of antidumping duties by Minh Phu. In the allegation, the AHSTEC asserted that Minh Phu evaded the anti-dumping duty as a US based importer related to Minh Phu brought in Indian-origin frozen shrimp that was transshipped through Vietnam.