[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1610-E1611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  APPROVING EXTENSION OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT WITH RESPECT TO 
             PRODUCTS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROGER F. WICKER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2001

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to this 
resolution. While I have always been a strong supporter of free trade, 
I can not support expanding trade with Vietnam until the administration 
addresses a serious conflict between Vietnam and the United States 
catfish industry. Frozen fish fillets of an entirely different family 
of fish are imported and unlawfully passed off to customers as 
``catfish`` in such large and increasing volumes that it threatens the 
future success of the American catfish industry.
  American consumers are being defrauded into believing that they are 
receiving farm raised U.S. catfish instead of another species of fish 
raised along the Mekong River in Vietnam. Most of the Vietnamese fish 
are raised in floating cages and ponds along the Mekong River Delta, 
feeding on whatever floats down the river. Yet they are fraudulently 
marketing them as farm-raised grain-fed catfish. Since the Vietnamese 
do not place a high value on cultivating the fish in a controlled 
environment, their cost of production is much lower.
  Importing interests of the Vietnam fish, searching for new markets, 
were allowed by the FDA to use the term ``catfish'' in combination with 
previously approved names. This has resulted in imports entering the 
U.S. in skyrocketing quantities and being fraudulently passed off to 
American consumers as ``catfish.''
  It is unlawful to pass a cheaper fish species off as another species. 
There is evidence of widespread illegal packaging and labeling of the 
Vietnamese fish which violates numerous existing laws, including the 
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the Trade-Mark Act of 1946, the 
Customs origin marking requirements, and the Federal Food Drug and 
Cosmetic Act.
  I understand that the bilateral agreement includes some trademark 
protection, but until importers are required to comply with current 
law, I do not think we can expect these protections to be enforced.
  Since 1997, the total import volume of Vietnamese catfish has risen 
from less than 500 thousand pounds to over 7 million pounds in 2000. 
According to this year's recorded import numbers, imports are reaching 
levels of 2 million pounds per month and on target to reach over 20 
million pounds in this year alone. As of May this year, Vietnamese 
imports of frozen fish fillets were equivalent to 20 percent of the 
sales of the United States farm-raised frozen fillets.
  There are over 189,000 acres of land in catfish production, of which 
110,000 are in my home state of Mississippi. U.S. catfish farmers 
produce 600 million pounds of farm-raised catfish annually and require 
1.8 billion pounds of feed. This supports over 90,000 acres of corn, 
500,000 acres of soybeans, and cotton seed from over 230,000 acres of 
cotton.

[[Page E1611]]

  This very young industry has created a catfish market where none had 
previously existed. They have done this by investing substantial 
capital to producing a quality product which the consumer considers to 
be reliable, safe, and healthy. We can not allow unfair competition to 
destroy the livelihood of farmers, processors, employees, and 
communities which depend on the American catfish industry.
  Before we expand trade relations with Vietnam, our two governments 
must resolve this issue in a way that ensures the quality and safety of 
Vietnamese imported fish products. The Administration must also enforce 
current law so that our American catfish producers are not unfairly put 
out of business. I am hopeful this issue can be resolved so that all 
Americans can enjoy the benefits of free and fair trade with Vietnam.

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