Anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese shrimp imported into the US increased dramatically, businesses cried out for injustice

The US Department of Commerce has just imposed a preliminary anti-dumping tax of up to 35.29% on Vietnamese shrimp, an unprecedented level in the past 19 years, causing a unanimous reaction from shrimp businesses and associations.

Surprised by the tax rate on shrimp, many seafood businesses are worried - Photo: TL

Early morning June 7 (Vietnam time), the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the preliminary results of the 19th administrative review (POR19) on the anti-dumping duty order on frozen warm-water shrimp imported from Vietnam for the period from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024.

According to the announcement, DOC determined that Thong Thuan Company (including Thong Thuan Cam Ranh) did not dump, with a dumping margin of 0%. Meanwhile, STAPIMEX Company was imposed a preliminary tax rate of up to 35.29%.

This tax rate is also applied to 22 other enterprises in the group that are eligible for separate tax rates but are not subject to mandatory inspection, instead of applying the weighted average tax rate from the two mandatory respondents as is customary.

In a press release, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and related businesses expressed surprise and deep concern about this sudden high preliminary tax rate.

During the 19 years that Vietnam participated in the administrative reviews of the shrimp anti-dumping lawsuit in the United States, no enterprise has ever been subject to a double-digit preliminary tax.

This is reminiscent of the case that happened in POR12, when DOC also imposed a preliminary tax rate of 25.76% on FIMEX Company due to a calculation error and then adjusted it to 4.58% in the final result.

Therefore, VASEP and businesses have every reason to believe that there were mistakes and errors in this result.

STAPIMEX Company has prepared very carefully and is confident with its accounting system to have the lowest tax rate. However, VASEP and businesses believe that there were some errors on both sides that led to incorrect data, leading to this time's preliminary result being so high that it is difficult to understand.

"We believe that the final result will be adjusted appropriately, reflecting the reality that Vietnamese enterprises do not dump into the US market," the VASEP representative emphasized.

Although the preliminary results are not yet effective and may change in the final results expected to be announced in December 2025, VASEP warned that the psychological impact has already appeared clearly.

Many US importers are hesitant in placing orders, even postponing or cutting orders with Vietnamese partners. This has direct consequences for exporting enterprises, shrimp farmers and domestic supply chains.

In the context of the Trump administration returning to applying high reciprocal tax policies on goods from many countries, the unusual anti-dumping tax rate makes it even more difficult for the Vietnamese shrimp industry to access the US market, which is Vietnam's largest shrimp export market.

Request DOC to reconsider the results

VASEP urgently requests DOC to review the calculation method and data in this preliminary result.

The Association also emphasized the need to ensure objectivity, fairness and consistency with practices from previous reviews, to protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese enterprises and avoid creating bad precedents in trade relations between the two countries.

TRUST

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/muc-thue-chong-ban-pha-gia-tom-viet-nam-vao-my-tang-dot-bien-doanh-nghiep-keu-oan-20250607223359144.htm