The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has officially has launched an anti-dumping investigation on honey products imported from Vietnam, and three other countries.

A beekeeping farm in the south of Vietnam. Photos: nongnghiep.vn

The decision was made after 20 days from the date of receiving complaints from the American Honey Producers Association and the Sioux Honey Association. They listed 12 Vietnamese exporters in the petition and calculated the dumping margin at 207.08%.

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under Ministry of Industry and Trade said the dumping margin estimated by the DOC for Vietnamese honey exporters ranges from 47.56% to 138.23%. 

The investigation period is scheduled to last for 12 months, renewable for another six months according to US regulations. The time-frame for anti-dumping investigation was from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. According to US regulations, as the DOC issues a questionnaire about the case, firms have about 30 days to fill it out. 

Statistics from the US Customs showed that Vietnam exported approximately 50,700 tons of honey to the US in 2020, accounting for about 25.8% of the US' total honey imports. The US is holding the largest market share (90%) of Vietnam’s total honey volume, followed by EU and Asia.

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam underlined that the listed exporters should cooperate with the DOC to fully answer questionnaires from US authorities.

"Any act of non-cooperation or inadequate cooperation may result in the adverse use of available evidence by the US agency or the imposition of the highest anti-dumping duty rate,” the Department noted. This marks the first time that Vietnamese honey products have faced trade defence lawsuits. 

Previously, the US launched an anti-dumping investigation against Chinese honey, along with anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against Argentinian honey in 2001.