US considers recognising Vietnam’s rules on catfish management

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working hard with a view to recognising Vietnam’s regulatory system on catfish management to be equivalent to that of the US, said first Deputy Secretary of USDA Stephen Censky.

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and first Deputy Secretary of USDA Stephen Censky (photo: MOFA)
Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and first Deputy Secretary of USDA Stephen Censky (photo: MOFA)

Censky made the remarks at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue on June 26, who is on an official visit to the US from June 25-27.

For his part, the Vietnamese Government leader stressed that Vietnam considers the US an important trading partner.

He proposed that the USDA sign a framework agreement on agriculture cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and asked the US agency to be flexible in the process of equivalence assessment and facilitate Vietnam’s catfish exports to the US.

The two countries should enhance joint work in smart agriculture, the development of low-emission agriculture production models, and models for adapting to and mitigating climate change in highly vulnerable areas such as the Red River and Mekong Deltas of Vietnam, Hue stressed.

He urged the US side to accelerate the import of Vietnamese mangoes and to consider importing other fruits, firstly pomelo.

Censky thanked the Vietnamese leader for his efforts in promoting agricultural cooperation between the two countries, saying that the US would begin importing star apples and is completing the final procedures for importing mangoes from Vietnam.

The USDA will work with the MARD to discuss measures to implement Deputy PM Hue’s proposals, especially for the import of pomelo in the near future, he said.

He also asked Vietnam to consider importing US fruits such as blueberries and other citrus fruits.