Vietnamese Furniture Exporters Alerted to U.S. Anti-dumping Probe
Vietnamese trade counselor in the U.S. has warned local furniture exporters of possible anti-dumping investigation by the foreign country following a banner year, the Saigon Times Daily reported.
The warning was raised at the meeting between 60 Vietnamese trade counselors overseas and corporate representatives in southern Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City February 25.
The counselor Ngo Van Thoan said U.S. furniture producers had voiced outcries over robust export increase of furniture from Vietnam, resulting in their factory closure and job loss for their employees.
Last year Vietnam exported US$1.2 billion worth of furniture to the U.S., marking an on year rise of 36 per cent and making the product surpass footwear to become Vietnam’s second biggest export to the U.S. after apparel.
“A 36 per cent rise in export revenue is very strong,” Thoan said, adding that the target of furniture sales from the U.S. market was around US$1.6 this year. “This is a challenging goal but the chance to realize this is high.”
He said U.S. companies had to provide the numbers of closed factories and lost jobs to support their outcry if they wanted to sue Vietnamese furniture firms. So, he called on local firms to prepare evidence for any trade disputes possibly taking place in the future.
Thoan said boosting exports to the U.S. market was the legitimate need of companies but they should organize their export activities well in line with close instructions and collaboration with their counterparts to avoid any disputes right at the first steps.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is making efforts to help consolidate cooperation among local business associations to make their activities clear and the price of their products transparent.
The ministry has targeted sales to the U.S. market this year would grow 23 per cent year-on-year to more than US$13 billion as against more than US$10.2 billion achieved last year.
(Saigon Times Daily)
Vietnamese
