Workers classify shrimps for export. — VNA Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese exporters have described the US Department of Commerce (DOC)'s recent levy of anti-subsidy duties on frozen shrimp imported from seven countries including Viet Nam as absolutely unreasonable.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) Truong Dinh Hoe said the DOC's decision was only based on Viet Nam's policies to develop its fishery sector without giving any persuasive factual evidence.

Moreover, the DOC is yet to take into account borrowing interest rates and aquatic feed prices in Viet Nam, which are far higher than those of other countries, he added.

Under the DOC's preliminary decision, products of Minh Quy company are subject to a 5.08 percent anti-subsidy duty while the rate for Nha Trang Seafood is 7.05 percent, which according to domestic seafood processors and exporters is extremely high.

If this rate remains until the final decision is made in late August, Vietnamese shrimp firms will find it hard to ship their products to the US.

The VASEP General Secretary said Vietnamese companies will continue campaigning for more reasonable duty rates — VNA/VNS