Vietnam tackles US in first WTO case

HANOI — Vietnam has filed its first case over anti-dumping measures under World Trade Organisation rules since joining the body three years ago, official media reported.

Vietnam brought the case against anti-dumping tariffs imposed by the United States on frozen shrimp, the Vietnam News Agency said in a report late Friday.

WTO is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

Vietnam, whose shrimp exporters face US tariffs ranging from 4.13 percent to 25.76 percent, sent a request to the United States on Monday to discuss the anti-dumping measures, the Vietnam News Agency said.

If the two countries cannot reach an agreement on the issue within 60 days, Vietnam can propose that the WTO set up a committee to settle the dispute, the report said.

Vietnamese officials were not immediately able to comment.

A US diplomat, speaking in Hanoi Saturday, said only that he had heard about Vietnam’s complaint to the WTO.