The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) hasdecided to launch a case against the US Department of Commerce (DOC)via the US Court of International Trade (CIT) over its imposition ofduties on Vietnam s warm-water shrimp.

According to theDOC’s decision reached during its eighth period of review from February1, 2012 to January 31, 2013, the high level of tariffs is to be appliedto 32 Vietnamese shrimp exporters. The duties will be 4.98 percent forMinh Phu Seafood Co. Ltd; 9.75 percent for Soc Trang Seafood JSC and6.37 percent for 30 other companies.

VASEP Vice PresidentNguyen Huu Dung said the tariff levels that DOC is planning to apply toVietnamese shrimp exporters are irrational. According to Dung, thetariff calculation was based on outdated data, adding that this wentagainst the US ’ Anti-Dumping Duty Law.

To justify hispoint, Dung cited the case of Bangladesh , in which the DOC used datafrom 2003 to calculate anti-dumping duties.

He said the DOC should use the most up-to-date data, which was more transparent and in line with the US ’ laws.

According to Dung, 31 shrimp exporters lodged a joint complaint withthe US CIT on September 29. The businesses will follow the casecarefully and submit their arguments in the lead-up to the 9th periodof review.

Dung urged shrimp exporters to manage their supply chains better and seek new markets.

During the first eight months of this year, Vietnam’s shrimp exportsto the US totalled 700 million USD in value, up by 80 percent comparedto the same period last year./.