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Editor's Note: Quit the legal wrangling
By Fiona Robinson, Editor in Chief
June 01, 2006
Vietnamese seafood exporters just can't get a break. Three
years after tariffs were slapped on imported basa, the domestic
industry again has its political gun pointed at Vietnam. But
this time the catfish farmers didn't turn to the International
Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce; they're
relying on Florida's attorney general, who has filed a
tax-evasion case against dealers in Florida who reportedly
substituted less expensive basa for grouper (see Late News,
page 3, and One Man's Opinion, page 22).
Catfish farmers and marketers have complained for years that
the flood of basa imports encroaches on their market, and that
the fish are mislabeled to skirt the tariff. The catfish
industry, and every domestic fishery that has filed antidumping
petitions or, in this case, a lawsuit, is fighting a losing
battle.
Mislabeling product is wrong and does not instill confidence
in the seafood industry. But the constant legal wrangling
between domestic and imported seafood parties does nothing more
than ensure fat paychecks for lawyers. Until a more rigid
import-inspection system is put into place, there will always
be some seafood company skirting tariffs with mislabeled
product. Meanwhile, the domestic catfish industry should focus
its time and energy increasing market share instead of
quibbling about basa imports, because they're not going
away.
Vietnam and other countries play an increasingly important
role in the domestic seafood supply. This issue's Top Story,
"China tips the scales," by Assistant Editor James Wright, is
proof that Chinese seafood imports are not going to stop,
despite tariffs. Buyers at large U.S. retail and restaurant
chains want a consistent supply at a price that consumers will
pay, and seafood from overseas, whether from China, India or
another country, fits that bill.
It's time the Chinese and Vietnamese did more to market (and
defend) their seafood products in the United States. Then
restaurants and retailers might actually label the product for
what it is instead of passing it off as a more expensive fish,
and consumers would know what they're eating.
Until something is done to increase consumer awareness about
imported product - like marketing species correctly with their
origins - overseas industries such as Vietnamese basa sadly
will continue to bear the brunt of legal and media attacks by
domestic interests. These fights don't further the U.S. seafood
industry's cause; history has shown consumers don't care where
their seafood is from, as long as they can afford it.