The US remains the leading market for seafood imports.
According to the General Department of Fisheries - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, seafood exports to the US market are facing many trade barriers, but in January, the US still maintained its position as the leading import market for Vietnamese seafood, accounting for 19.15% of the market share, followed by Japan (17.81%) and South Korea (8.36%).
Processing seafood for export. (Photo: Duy Khuong/VNA)
In January, the country's seafood export turnover reached approximately 376 million USD, an increase of 3.5% compared to the same period in 2012.
2013 was considered a challenging year for seafood exports, facing challenges such as a lack of production capital, raw materials, and labor.
However, despite the decline in the supply of both wild-caught and farmed seafood in some countries, seafood industry experts predict that the global demand for seafood will continue to increase. Therefore, Vietnam's seafood exports still have the opportunity to reach a value of 6.4 billion USD in 2013.
To increase seafood export turnover in the coming period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the fisheries sector to continue investing in raw material production, prioritizing key products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, mollusks, etc. At the same time, continue to promote trade, forecast markets, organize activities to promote Vietnamese seafood products abroad, and further strengthen linkages in aquaculture.
In addition, the fisheries sector continues to strengthen technical improvements, production organization and credit, and quality and food safety inspection and supervision. Particularly for the US market, the current shrimp lawsuit is putting significant pressure on exporting businesses.
Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), said that VASEP is preparing evidence to prove that domestic seafood does not receive subsidies from the Government, as alleged by the US Shrimp Coalition.
Experience from how Vietnamese businesses have responded to foreign lawsuits shows that each entity should prepare sufficient evidence to prove that it has not violated the allegations, especially regarding not receiving subsidies from the government.
Mr. Hoè also suggested that, based on experience from previous lawsuits, the Competition Management Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) should lead the anti-lawsuit program, proactively select and hire foreign lawyers, and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to successfully handle this case.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to continue supporting the necessary lobbying activities for the administrative reviews of the anti-subsidy shrimp price review case.
According to (Vietnam+) - LC
