Vietnam Faces Import Ban on Seafood to US

Strategic Insights -

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) announced on Monday that the US Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has refused to recognize 12 Vietnamese seafood occupations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This decision, which affects seafood exploited by those fisheries, will result in an import ban that will halt the export of many key Vietnamese seafood species to the US starting from January 1, 2026. To mitigate the impact, VASEP has urged the government to take immediate and long-term measures to help the Vietnamese seafood industry access the US market. In response, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien, has written to US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, requesting reconsideration of the decision to avoid disruptions to bilateral trade and protect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen and seafood industry workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has refused to recognize 12 Vietnamese seafood occupations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
  • This decision will lead to an import ban on Vietnamese seafood starting from January 1, 2026, harming key export species.
  • The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has called for urgent and long-term measures to help the Vietnamese seafood industry access the US market.
  • VASEP's concerns have been echoed by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien, who has written to US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting reconsideration of the decision.
  • The Minister highlighted the potential disruption to bilateral trade and the impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen and seafood industry workers.
  • Vietnam is committed to close cooperation with the United States to resolve outstanding issues in a constructive manner.

Statistics:

  • 12 Vietnamese seafood occupations have been refused recognition under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
  • The import ban on Vietnamese seafood is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
  • Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen and seafood industry workers rely on the US market for their livelihoods.
  • The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has urged the government to take immediate and long-term measures to help the industry access the US market.

Sources:

  • VASEP announcement (no date provided)
  • Ministry of Industry and Trade (no date provided)
  • US Department of Commerce (no date provided)
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act (no date provided)