Tuna processed for exports. Việt Nam has urged the US to reconsider their recent import restrictions to seafood products from Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên has sent a letter to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reconsider their recent decisions declining to acknowledge Việt Nam’s equivalence in 12 seafood harvesting methods under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The decisions mean imports from the affected fisheries will be banned from January 1, 2026, which could cause disruptions to bilateral trade and threaten the livelihoods of Vietnamese fishermen and workers.

In the letter sent on Monday, Diên also called on Lutnick to ensure a fair and objective outcome for Vietnamese shrimp exporters in the ongoing 19th administrative review of anti-dumping duties, stressing that Vietnamese companies are reliable partners doing business fairly in the US market.

The US decisions would not only affect Vietnamese producers, exporters and fishermen but also US importers, workers and consumers, Diên emphasised.

Việt Nam and the US maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership built on trust and mutual benefit, he said, stressing that Việt Nam considers the US an important trade partner and has created favourable conditions for US investors. Việt Nam remains committed to working closely with the US to resolve outstanding issues constructively towards the future.

According to the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the US decisions declining to acknowledge Việt Nam’s equivalence in 12 seafood harvesting methods affect key export products such as tuna, mackerel, lobster, crab, squid, grouper, swordfish, snapper, mullet and billfish.

The association noted that Việt Nam has made strong efforts to modernise fisheries management, including the adoption of the Law on Fisheries 2017 and compliance with rules on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, dolphin-safe certification for tuna exports and many other marine mammal protection programmes.

The association has urged the government and ministries to take urgent short- and long-term measures to support seafood exporters and prevent major disruptions to seafood exports to the US. — VNS