Attorneys representing the Vietnamese shrimp industry are proceeding to file a petition with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) objecting to the imposition of anti-dumping duties by the US Government.
Shortly after the US Department of Commerce (DOC) issued its decision to impose a penalty tax rate of 9.75% on shrimp exports during the eighth period of review (POR8), Vietnamese exporters strongly objected asserting the tax rates during the POR7 period of zero %, should continue.
Chu Van An, Minh Phu Seafood Joint Stock Company Deputy Director, called the DOC’s decision arbitrary and unfair asserting the anti-dumping allegations are not true and there should be no penalty tax imposed.
Meanwhile, a preliminary tax rate of 4.98% has been levied on his company’s shrimp exports to the US during the POR8 period.
The company is therefore proceeding with the filing of a petition objecting to the decision by the DOC’s on the basis that it violates the ordinary course of conduct business standard established by the parties over the years, among other reasons, An said.
For years there has been no or a low penalty and nothing in the conduct of the parties relationship has changed, he continued.
An said there may have been some misunderstandings or miscommunications with the DOC and the issues may be amicably resolved by getting legal representation to insure there is clear and concise communication and all sides have ample opportunity to thoroughly explain their positions.
If so, we will again have an opportunity to enjoy low tax rates, even zero % six months from now in the next period, he concluded.
A representative from Soc Trang Seafood Joint Stock Company said that his company is following a similar path as Minh Phu Seafood JSC and hopes the issue can be resolved with a fair hearing and the filing of a formal petition.
(VOV)
