Vietnam responses to the US plan to impose an over 400% tax on honey

In the afternoon of February 17^th, the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Le Thi Thu Hang, answered questions on Vietnam's reaction toward the United States Department of Commerce's announcement of a preliminary anti-dumping tax rate of more than 400% on Vietnamese honey products at a regular press conference.

Accordingly, on December 7^th, 2021, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade commented on the issues. Vietnam wishes to push for a positively developed Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership, in which the economic-trade cooperation strives towards harmonization of interests and sustainability.

Ms. Hang emphasized that Vietnam is willing to exchange regularly with the US through existing mechanisms such as the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to further enhance the economic and commercial relationship, bilateral investment, promptly solve arising problems, thereby contributing to the promotion of the development of Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership for the benefit of peoples of the two countries.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assumed that the US's application of the expected anti-dumping tax rate as mentioned on Vietnamese honey will have a very negative impact on Vietnam's beekeeping industry, in which the US is the main export market. This will simultaneously have a detrimental impact on Vietnam's cultivation industry in which bees help pollinate flowers.

“This is certain to directly affect the jobs and livelihoods of many beekeepers and farmers, mainly in the Southern and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam", Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang said.

Currently, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and MARD are exchanging with the US at different levels of authority to resolve the issues, requesting the US’s actions toward the problem must rely on an objective and fair basis, in accordance with WTO regulations, causing no unreasonable damage to beekeepers and Vietnamese businesses.