A curious hurdle is threatening to complicate efforts by the United States to reach a major trade agreement with 11 Pacific nations by the end of the year — catfish.
At issue is a pending new catfish inspection program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would replace but cost far more than an existing scheme run by the Food and Drug Administration. U.S. catfish farmers say the new program would be more rigorous than the one at the FDA and is needed to make sure all domestic and imported catfish are safe for consumers to eat.
Vietnam, a large exporter of catfish and one of the nations in the trade talks, says it is nothing more than a trade barrier in disguise.
"And it's not even a good disguise, it's clearly a thinly veiled attempt designed to keep out fish from countries like Vietnam," said Le Chi Dzung, who heads the economics section at the Vietnamese embassy in Washington.
Last week Vietnamese trade officials wrote to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the White House and members of Congress and threatened trade retaliation if the program was not repealed.
"Our government is unwilling to sit by as this program is implemented," the trade officials wrote, adding that American exports of beef, soybeans and other goods to Vietnam could suffer as a result.
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