Balancing marine conservation, trade, economic development

As part of the working visit to Washington, D.C. by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, on April 14-15 (local time), the delegation held meetings with Mrs. Harriet Hageman, Chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries; the Chief of Staff to Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida; the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission (MMC); and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI).

Accompanying the Deputy Minister during the meetings were specialized agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, including the International Cooperation Department and the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance. These are the two focal agencies of Viet Nam that directly handle emerging issues and coordinate with the U.S. to implement regulations equivalent to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

In addition, representatives of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) also participated throughout the meetings, thereby reaffirming the strong commitment of the Vietnamese business community. The working visit demonstrated alignment between regulatory authorities and the business sector in the joint effort to build an image of a responsible Vietnamese seafood industry, while persistently fostering and promoting sustainable seafood trade relations between the two countries.

During the meeting with U.S. congressional agencies, Deputy Minister expressed sympathy with the U.S.’ efforts to conserve marine ecosystems, including marine mammals, while emphasizing that the implementation of related regulations should also ensure a balance with socio-economic objectives.

He expressed his wish to promote cooperation between Viet Nam and the U.S. in effectively and appropriately implementing regulations related to marine mammal conservation, and to reach consensus among relevant U.S. stakeholders on a balanced approach between conservation objectives and requirements for economic growth, ensuring the livelihoods of coastal communities and the practical interests of businesses in both countries.

Viet Nam reaffirmed its proactive spirit in implementing international commitments and import market regulations, while striving to maintain a stable and responsible flow of trade.

Deputy Minister stressed that marine ecosystem conservation is an intrinsic objective of Viet Nam itself, aimed at ensuring sustainable livelihoods for fishermen. This serves as a foundation for compliance with regulations in the U.S. market as well as other export markets.

However, in response to detailed provisions under the MMPA, Viet Nam proposed that the U.S. support a flexible compliance roadmap, based on the characteristics of small-scale fisheries and local natural conditions. Rather than rigid application, Viet Nam suggested establishing a compliance support mechanism and an appropriate transition timeframe to protect shared resources without negatively affecting supply chains and local livelihoods.

The Deputy Minister also expressed concerns about potential impacts on supply chains in the U.S. if regulations are implemented without sufficient flexibility. He emphasized that establishing a suitable implementation roadmap would not only protect exporting partners but also directly ensure stability, predictability, and employment across the U.S. import, logistics, and retail systems.

In this spirit, Viet Nam called on the U.S. to adopt an appropriate implementation roadmap and introduce concrete measures to safeguard balanced economic interests for businesses in both countries, as well as to ensure American consumers’ access to abundant, high-quality, and reasonably priced food products from Viet Nam.

At the conclusion of the meetings, both sides reached a broad consensus on the Deputy Minister's viewpoints. The agencies also expressed strong interest and tangible benefits for the U.S. in promoting trade relations with Viet Nam, and pledged to provide positive support for Viet Nam in issues related to the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Within the framework of this working visit, on April 15, Deputy Minister and the delegation also held a meeting with the National Fisheries Institute (NFI).

At the meeting, the Deputy Minister expressed appreciation and emphasized the importance of close cooperation with NFI and Vietnamese seafood exporters to ensure the continuity of seafood trade flows and to promote the stability of the Viet Nam - U.S. seafood supply chain. He urged NFI to continue supporting VASEP in strengthening its capacity to implement MMPA requirements for specific product groups, to achieve the expected effectiveness and meet stringent U.S. standards.