The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has issued Decision No 4236 / QD-BCT to extend the deadline for investigating cases of applying safeguard measures for DAP and MAP fertilisers imported into Viet Nam before issuing the final report.

The deadline for investigation has been extended to January 12, 2018.

Earlier, on March 31, some domestic fertiliser producers requested that trade defence measures be applied on a number of imported fertiliser products due to their negative impact on domestic production.

Based on the dossier appraisal results, customs data and provisions of the law on safeguards, on May 12, MoIT issued Decision No 1682A/QD-BCT on initiating a fertiliser dumping investigation and considering the application of safeguard measures on DAP and MAP imported fertiliser products into Viet Nam.

According to the provision, investigation time limit shall not exceed six months from the date the minister of industry and trade decides to investigate (November 12, 2017). In case it is necessary, the investigation time limit may be extended once for no more than two subsequent months.

On August 4, MoIT issued Decision No 3044/QD-BCT to apply safeguard measures on some DAP and MAP fertiliser products imported into Viet Nam.

Therefore, to collect all the relevant information for this case, thoroughly examine the opinions of relevant sides and assess the socio-economic impact comprehensively, the investigation agency has proposed that MoIT extend the investigation time of the case by two more months.

The import of such fertilisers has risen sharply since early 2016, which is said to have affected local production and caused heavy losses to domestic fertiliser producers.

Last year, Viet Nam spent US$1.1 billion to import 4.15 million tonnes of fertiliser, the General Department of Viet Nam Customs reported.

MoIT estimated that fertiliser import spending in 2017 is similar to 2016 at $1.1 billion and the main import market is China. — VNS