Viet Nam will focus on expanding the export market for agricultural products in the second quarter of this year, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

Making a speech at the press conference in Ha Noi on Tuesday, Tuan said agricultural products were among the seven solution packages conducted by the ministry to maintain growth since early this year, aiming to reach US$40-40.5 billion this year.

In the first quarter of this year, the country reached an estimated export turnover of $8.7 billion from agriculture, forestry and fisheries, marking a growth rate of 4.05 per cent.

“This is the highest growth rate in the past 15 years. It’s an effort of the whole sector in directing production and an initial effect of restructuring agriculture, which links production with the trends of the market,” said Tuan.

At the conference, local media also mentioned the US anti-dumping tax imposed on tra fish imported from Viet Nam and the possibility of the European Commission withdrawing the yellow card against off-shore seafood products of Viet Nam. The warning of the yellow card is part of the EC’s fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide.

Regarding the imposition of anti-dumping duties on tra fish, Deputy Director of Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Hung said this was an unreasonable action.

“My directorate in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) are co-operating with businesses and other relevant sectors to appeal against this judgment,” said Hung.

In the 13th administrative review (POR13), the US imposed an anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese tra fish five to six times higher than the previous tax, which was $0.69 per kilo.

According to VASEP, Vietnamese businesses are not dumping. The selling price of Vietnamese tra fish is cheaper than that of American fish because inputs such as labour and production conditions are cheaper than the US side.

“The US’s decision is unilateral and unfair, not matching the rules of the World Trade Organisation. We do not exclude the possibility that we will seriously consider bringing this case to international arbitration," said Tuan.

In regard to the EC’s yellow card for the Vietnamese off-shore seafood, Tuan said the ministry in co-ordination with relevant sectors would further improve legal framework, including the Fisheries Law which was passed by the National Assembly in 2017.

“We have organised many missions to dialogue with other countries as well as strengthening patrol and surveillance of fishing vessels to prevent fishermen from fishing illegally in foreign waters,” said Tuan.

Tuan said the sector had also co-operated with local authorities to instruct fishermen to strictly implement regulations on catching and traceability of seafood resources.

"Not only that, we are directing with other items such as timber and forest products to ensure the traceability according to law,” added Tuan. — VNS