Vietnam protests US shrimp tariffs

The Vietnamese foreign ministry has objected to a decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to uphold tarrifs on pond-raised shrimp imported from Vietnam, based on the rationale that the shrimp are being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. The DOC on November 30 made its final tariffs on Vietnam's shrimp exports, ranging between 4.13%-25.76%, compared to 12.11% to 93.13% in its preliminary ruling on June 6 this year. Dusted and battered shrimp from Vietnam are exempt from these duties. The rate is much higher for China shrimp exports, which range from 27.9 percent to 112.8 percent. Other shrimp exporting countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, India and Thailand, are expected to receive similar tariff restrictions.(The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C., Dec. 2; BBC Monitoring International Reports, VNA, Dec. 2; Radio Australia, Dec. 4).