Vietnam has requested the United States to reconsider its decline  to acknowledge Vietnam’s equivalence to 12 seafood harvesting methods (fisheries) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), aiming to avoid disruptions to bilateral trade and protect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of fishermen, according to a report from Radio the Voice of Vietnam.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular press briefing on September 25, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang responded to a reporter's question regarding the recent decision by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to deny comparability status for 12 Vietnamese seafood harvesting methods (fisheries) under the MMPA, which carries the risk of halting imports of these products into the US from January 1, 2026.

Ms. Hang clearly stated that "On September 15, Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien, sent a letter to the US Secretary of Commerce, requesting that the Department of Commerce and NOAA reconsider the decision to refuse recognition, in order to avoid serious disruptions to bilateral trade and protect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen and workers."

The foreign ministry spokesperson affirmed that in recent times, under the direction of the Government and with the companionship of local authorities, Vietnam's fisheries sector has made efforts to modernize, enhance responsibility, and strengthen fisheries management.

"In the coming time, based on the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam is ready to discuss and work with the US side to resolve existing difficulties, continue to promote fair and sustainable bilateral trade cooperation, ensuring the legitimate interests of people and businesses in both countries,"  said Ms. Hang.