Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has celebrated a triumph for U.S. catfish producers as the Commerce Department reversed a decision that favored Communist Vietnam. The Senator led an effort challenging an anti-dumping order that would have provided extensive relief to all Communist-controlled Vietnam exporters. Hyde-Smith expressed satisfaction with the Commerce Department's reversal, emphasizing the importance of this decision for the U.S. catfish industry and American consumers. She stated, "The Commerce Department actually heeded our warnings and the rescission of this review is a clear victory for the U.S. catfish industry, which is so important to Mississippi and other rural states. It’s also a victory for American consumers, who will not be put at risk from tainted imported catfish." Additionally, Hyde-Smith highlighted the implications of rescinding the review, noting that it would maintain the $2.39/kg antidumping duty rate on catfish shipments from government-controlled companies in Vietnam. She underscored the significance of deterring shipments from companies with concerning labor practices and production methods that pose risks to public health. The Commerce Department's decision to abandon the preliminary ruling signifies a win for U.S. farm-raised catfish producers and processors, safeguarding their interests in the market.