USTR Should Push TPP Inspection Mechanisms for Vietnamese Seafood Exports, Say Lawmakers
Vietnamese seafood exports to the U.S. often contain illegal veterinary medicines, fungicides and other chemicals, said several House lawmakers in recent days, calling for binding mechanisms in the Trans-Pacific Partnership to address the risks. Reps. Walter Jones, R-N.C., Rick Crawford, R-Ariz., Steve Stockman, R-Texas and Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., argued in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman the TPP agreement should also mandate assessment of U.S. injury resulting from dumped Vietnamese products. The Vietnamese have illegally dumped shrimp and catfish exports into the U.S. market, placing U.S. shrimpers and catfish farmers at a competitive disadvantage, said the lawmakers. Moreover, Chinese firms are using Vietnam as a conduit for seafood exports to the U.S. market to avoid U.S. duties, said the letter.
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“Vietnam is one of the world’s largest seafood exporters, but the Vietnamese seafood and aquaculture industry has repeatedly skirted international norms and standards,” said the letter. “These negotiations provide a key leverage point to ensure that Vietnam’s industry plays by the rules and does not unfairly disadvantage American fishing and aquaculture industries or imperil consumers with dangerous seafood exports.”