Catfish Fight: Vietnam’s tra and basa fish exports to the US

Abstract

The case centers on the first dumping case between the U.S. and Vietnam in which the U.S. Catfish Farmers Association claimed that certain Vietnamese frozen fish fillets were dumped in the U.S. market. As the dumping charge was initiated shortly after the US-VN BTA became effective, it drew enormous attention from the government and the business community in Vietnam. The purpose of this case study is to describe the trade dispute settlement mechanism in the U.S. and addresse the issue of fair trade. It also analyzes the various arguments put forward by the Vietnamese side and the likely impact that an antidumping duty would have on the Vietnam’s frozen fish processing industry and fish farmers. Two other important questions are also discussed in the case. First, should Vietnam be treated as a non-market economy or a market economy in this trade dispute? Second, what advantages would Vietnam have in defending the case if it were a member of the WTO?