Vietnamese goods suffer nearly 200 trade remedies lawsuits

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Steel is a commodity that is facing quite a lot of trade remedies lawsuits. Photo: N.Thanh

The latest update information from the MoIT said the number of cases of investigation and application of trade protection measures to Vietnam's exports continues to increase.

Vietnam has been investigated by countries initiating the investigation of nearly 200 trade remedies cases for many commodities, including important export items such as seafood (shrimp andpangasius), iron, steel, aluminum andwood.In which, Vietnam successfully sued about 43% of the cases; to ensure many products of Vietnam, especially commodities such as pangasius, shrimp, continue to be exported to major markets such as the US, EU...with the tax rate of 0% or very low; petitioned fivecases to the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO, of which threecases ended with positive results.

In the opposite direction of the lawsuit, Vietnam has so far investigated 19 trade remedies cases and is processing lawsuits of many other industries. The products subject to tax investigation and imposition are diverse, from raw materials such as iron and steel, metals, chemicals, plastics, and fertilizers to consumer goods such as MSG and sugar.

Thanks to trade remedies, many businesses in a number of economic sectors have significantly improved their production and business situation, got rid of losses and gradually stabilized their production.

“These measures also contribute to the implementation of solutions related to handling 12 loss-making projects of the industry and trade sector. In particular, a number of enterprises have significantly improved their production and business situation, got rid of losses and gradually stabilized their production such as DAP-Vinachem Fertilizer Company (Dinh Vu - HaiPhong), Viet Trung Steel Company, Viet Y Steel Company andPomina Steel Company,” stressed the representative of the MoIT.

Although remarkable results have been achieved in the past period, the MoIT has assessed that Vietnam's trade remedies work still has some limitations that must be completed to meet the requirements of the new integration period.

Specifically, the trade remedies capacity of many industries and enterprises has not been enhanced. The legal system, deployment mechanism and coordination among agencies in handling foreign commercial trade remedies cases are inadequate. Along with that, human resources performing trade remedies work are not commensurate with the increase in the number and complexity of trade remedies, lawsuits and protests.

Around the story of responding to trade remedies, talking to a reporter of the Customs News, Le Trieu Dung, Director of the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam - TRAV (the MoIT) evaluated, to minimisethe possibility of applied trade remedies measures, it is necessary to have a comprehensive andlong-term strategy in developing the production chain, increasing the added value of Vietnam's exports.

"Besides focusing on in-depth development (increasing domestic value-added), Vietnam also needs to carefully monitor to warn early if Vietnam's exports to some markets increase dramatically,"Dung said.

The MoIT said that to effectively exploit the new generation free trade agreements in the context of increasing protectionist trends and complextrade conflicts, countries around the world are also strengthening the use oftrade remedies measures to protect domestic production, so State management agencies and the business community need to raise awareness and trade remedies capacity.

It is necessary to research, review and complete Vietnam's trade remedies legal system to ensure it meets practical requirements that synchronous and isconsistent with international commitments while simplifying procedures for enterprises.

Besides, strengthening coordination mechanism, throughout handling trade remedies cases between ministries, central branches and localities; between domestic and foreign agencies; between State management agencies and associations; complete the connection of the customs database with the trade remedies database to serve the investigation, application and response to trade remedies cases.