Hanoi (VNA) – The USDepartment of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary conclusion on theanti-subsidy investigation into frozen warm water shrimp originating in Vietnam,according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV).

The investigation, initiated onNovember 14, 2023, was conducted by the DOC at the request of the AmericanShrimp Processors Association with the investigated period from January 1, 2022to December 31, 2022.

The DOC selected two businessesposting the biggest volumes of the targeted products exported to the US duringthe investigated period as mandatory defendants.

Considering information from theVietnamese Government and exporting businesses as well as the US plaintiff, theDOC decided to impose a preliminary anti-subsidy tax rate of 2.84% on amandatory defendant enterprise and the remaining firms. However, a rateof up to 196.41% was levied on the other mandatory defendant that withdrew fromthe investigation on January 4, 2024.

TRAV said the DOC will verify informationprovided by the Government and businesses of Vietnam to use as a basis forissuing the final conclusion and official tax rates.

The parties concerned can submit theircomments on the preliminary conclusion or viewpoints on the case no later thanseven days after the final verification report is released. Feedback on otherparties’ comments should be submitted no later than five days since the firstcomment submission deadline.

Relevant sides can also send awritten request to the DOC for a hearing on the issues mentioned in thecomments and feedback within 30 days since the preliminary conclusion wasissued.

The DOC is expected to release thefinal conclusion on August 5 this year at the latest. After that, the USInternational Trade Commission (ITC) will issue the final conclusion on damage within 45 days since the DOC’s final conclusion issuance.

TRAV noted that the DOC initially probed into 40 programmes/policies of theVietnamese Government. On February 5 and 23 this year, it continued to enquireinto some others at the request of the US plaintiff, raising the number ofprogrammes/policies investigated in this case to nearly 50 – the biggest amonganti-subsidy investigations into Vietnamese exports so far.

TRAV recommended businesses to prepare for and cooperate with the DOC during thecoming verification while raising their viewpoints and comments on thepreliminary conclusion because their engagement and comments will direct affectthe final conclusion./.