Tra fish sector under pressure to change for survival

A worker weighs tra fish at a processing factory in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese tra fish sector will have to meet stricter quality requirements in the U.S. - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH

HCMC – The Vietnamese tra fish sector will have to take measures to cope with rising export difficulties in the past two years and meet stricter quality requirements in the U.S., a major market for tra fish.

An agricultural expert said tra fish from Vietnam are subject to anti-dumping duties imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) until 2018.

The DOC issues preliminary results of an administrative review of the anti-dumping duty order on tra fish imports from Vietnam in March every year and final results in September. Vietnamese tra fish exports will dip if the duty is high.

However, the U.S. cannot depend on this duty to protect its seafood enterprises after 2018.

Therefore, it has required that all imports of tra fish from Vietnam be inspected under a mandatory inspection program starting from August 2. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the Farm Bill ten years ago. Shipments must meet strict American requirements such as tests on residues of 89 antibiotic substances, 108 pesticides, four dyes and 17 metals.

Many seafood exporters in Vietnam agreed that the Farm Bill is designed to protect American farmers.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, tra fish shipments to the U.S. will encounter tougher challenges. However, if domestic exporters can satisfy strict requirements, they will be able to sell products to America at higher prices.

On July 19, the Government Office wrote to the Ministries of Agriculture-Rural Development and Industry-Trade asking for preparations to meet the U.S. import requirements.

In recent years, Vietnamese seafood exporters have struggled with a string of challenges in major markets such as the U.S., Japan, the European Union (EU) and Australia.

VASEP said domestic enterprises should focus on products of higher quality and with higher prices, rather than low-cost items.

Vietnam’s tra fish have made their way to AEON supermarkets in Japan and listed among TOPVALU products.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has forecast tra fish exports will be stable this year, backed by strong demand of Asian countries, especially China.