Catfish Institute tells Senate some Vietnamese fish imports contain dangerous substances
US - In a statement recently submitted to the Senate Finance Committee hearing on normalization of trade with Vietnam, a spokesman for The Catfish Institute said U.S. farm raised catfish growers and processors support granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam.
By granting PNTR, the United States will pave the way for Vietnam to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and subject to the same rules and principles that govern trade among all nations.
Two serious issues, however, need to be addressed when Vietnam joins the WTO: banned and dangerous additives found in Vietnamese fish imported into the U.S.; and, the mislabeling of Vietnamese fish imports.
"Vietnam's full participation in international markets and the community of nations is a positive and appropriate development. At the same time, serious issues with Vietnamese fish imports need to be addressed within the World Trade Organization frameworks," explained Jeff McCord, a spokesman for, and advisor to, The Catfish Institute, a nonprofit group based in Jackson, Mississippi promoting U.S. farm raised catfish.
Source: bymnews