Vietnam hails US Senate's decision to scrap catfish inspection programme

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has welcomed the US Senate’s passage of a resolution that repeals the US Department of Agriculture’s catfish inspection programme, which stems from the 2014 farm bill.

Photo for Illustration (Pho to: Thai Thien)

The measure, led by Senator John McCain, was approved by a 55-43 vote and will now go to the House of Representatives and President Barack Obama.

The MOIT reiterated that the catfish inspection programme is unnecessary, protectionist and not beneficial to US consumers. The programme also adversely affects the growing economic and trade relations between the two countries, and may be incompatible with US commitments to the World Trade Organisation.

Since the catfish inspection programme was created in the farm bill, the Vietnamese government has asked the US to review it several times.

Leaders of relevant Vietnamese ministries have also sent correspondence to and met US officials to protest the programme, which was also put forward by Vietnam and partly dealt with by the US during negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The decision by the US Senate on May 25 was the first significant step towards resolving the issue radically and effectively.

The MOIT expected that the motion would continue to receive support from the US House of Representatives and be signed into law by the US president.

(Source: NDO)