Accusation of dumping catfish is groundless

Ha Noi, July 10 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Fisheries Association (VFA) has refuted as "groundless and slanderous" any statement that Viet Nam dumped its "basa" and "tra" catfish.

The VFA made the remark in response to the June 28, 2002 accusation from the American Catfish Farmers Association (CFA), which has filed a lawsuit against Viet Nam for the alleged catfish dumping.

"Developing basa and tra trade between Viet Nam and the U.S. is beneficial to both countries," the VFA said in a statement released on July 9.

The VFA recalled that in recent years, Viet Nam's basa and tra catfish, which have been exported to the U.S. market in frozen fillets, have helped to meet the U.S. demand for fish consumption as well as to promote the raising of this kind of fish in Viet Nam and create tens of thousands of jobs for local people.

In Viet Nam, aquaculture, including catfish raising, has gained inspiring results in line with national economic development, the statement said, adding:

"Thanks to their industrious labour, know-how improvement and new technological application, Vietnamese farmers have gradually increased the output and quality of their fish as well as reduced production costs and ensured environmental protection."

"The Vietnamese Government has never given any farm subsidy to them to lower their fish sale prices. Besides, they are poor households or small farm owners, who can not afford to dump their fish products," the VFA stressed.

It noted that at present, they still gain profits from raw basa and tra catfish which are sold for 14,000-15,000 VND per kilo only.

The VFA also asked managerial offices of both the Vietnamese and U.S governments to adopt a fair attitude towards the CFA's lawsuit and hoped that the CFA reconsiders its move.

"We hold that the lawsuit, if conducted, will be harmful to the trade ties between the two countries and also have direct impacts on the living conditions of catfish producers in Viet Nam as well as limit U.S. consumers' choice of fish products," the VFA said.--Enditem