Mobile Courant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it is reversing course on a preliminary decision that would have severe economic impact on U.S. catfish farmers, including those in Alabama. A Federal Register notice indicated that the Administration is abandoning the preliminary decision which would have reduced the non-market economy (NME) anti-dumping duty from $2.39/kg to $0.14/kg for all producers controlled by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Senator Tuberville expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “This announcement is great news for Alabama’s catfish farmers. Alabama is the number two state in American catfish production, raising one-third of the world’s catfish. As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know firsthand how critical catfish are to our economy. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate AG Committee, I’ll always stand up for Alabama’s catfish farmers against the Biden administration’s overreach.”

In a previous effort to address the issue, Senator Tuberville had sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on January 17, 2024, urging the Biden administration to not reverse the designation of Vietnam as a non-market economy, a status that had been in place for 20 years.

Alabama, being ranked 2nd nationally in farm-raised catfish production, plays a significant role in the industry. The catfish sector in the state employs over 2,400 individuals and contributes nearly $92 million in economic value. Last year, Senator Tuberville was instrumental in leading a Senate resolution to designate August 2023 as National Catfish Month, recognizing the importance of the catfish industry to the United States’ economy and honoring the farmers involved in catfish production.

Senator Tommy Tuberville, representing Alabama in the United States Senate, has been a vocal advocate for the state’s catfish farmers and has consistently worked to protect their interests from adverse regulatory decisions.