Uncertain US future for Tra fish

The House voted down the programme after a July 12 debate with 218 votes in favour of the repeal and 206 votes against.

The programme was first included in the 2008 Farm Bill. If approved, it would have reallocated the responsibility for catfish import inspections from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Supporters insisted the USDA is better at screening for toxic chemicals and other contaminants.

Tra fish is one of Vietnam's major seafood exports

Opponents argued the programme not only wastes money but also creates de facto trade barriers protecting the domestic catfish industry from Southeast Asian exporters, including Vietnam.

Many organisations, including the Government Accountability Office and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), claimed the programme has already cost the USDA millions of US dollars despite no consignments undergoing inspection to date.

US Representative Vicky Hartzler, one of the many congressmen opposed to the programme, said repealing it will save American taxpayers more than US$170 million over the next 10 years.

However, the programme has received support from many Senators, meaning it still poses considerable risks to Vietnamese Tra and Basa fish exporters.

The Senate is going to consider the programme in another debate. If common ground cannot be reached, the US could be forced to close its doors to Vietnamese Tra and Basa, seriously damaging Vietnamese exporters and hundreds of thousands of farmers.

It would take Vietnam 5 to 7 years to upgrade its production and processing processes in line with USDA standards, enabling the resumption of seafood exports to the US.

Vietnam earns US$400 million from Tra and Basa fish exports to the US every year. The Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers reported the US became Vietnam’s leading Tra fish importer in the first five months of 2013, consuming US$170 million.