Restructure the Debt Payment due to Covid-19

On March 13, 2020, the State Bank issued Circular No. 01/2020/TT-NHNN providing guidance for the credit institutions, foreign bank branches to restructure the debt payment, exemption and reduction periods, charge, keep the debt group in support of customers affected by Covid-19 epidemic, which is an important legal grounds to support the economy.

 

Restructure the Debt Payment due to Covid-19

Accordingly, the debt group restructuring is carried out as follows:

Debts which are restructured repayment term are the principal amount and/or interest (including the debt balance of debts within the scope of regulation of Decree No. 55/2015/ ND-CP of June 9, 2015 of the Government on the credit policy for agricultural and rural development (amended and supplemented)), which fully meets the following conditions: arising from lending activities, financial leasing; Arising the obligation to repay the principal and/or interest within the period from January 23, 2020 to the next day after 03 months from the date the Prime Minister announces the end of the Covid -19 epidemic; Customers are unable to pay the debt principals and/or interests on time according to the signed contracts, loan agreements, financial leases due to the decrease in revenue and income due to Covid -19 epidemic.

The debt repayment restructuring shall be carried out in cases where the outstanding debt is still due or overdue for up to 10 days from the due date of payment or due under the contract, financial leasing agreements; or The overdue debt balance in the period from January 23, 2020 to the next day after 15 days from the effective date of this Circular.

Credit institutions, foreign bank branches may decide on rescheduling of repayment of outstanding debts in the above-mentioned cases, based on customers’ requests and assessments of credit institutions, foreign bank branch on the ability to repay the principal and/or interest of the customer in full after rescheduling, in accordance with the influence of Covid -19 service and ensuring the credit institution, the foreign bank branch fails to restructure the debt repayment term for debts in violation of legal regulations and the restructuring time in case of extending an extended repayment period shall not exceed 12 months from the last day of the debt term, finance lease (the time the customer must pay all principal and interest under the signed contract, loan agreement, financial lease).

In addition, credit institutions and foreign bank branches shall decide on the exemption and reduction of interests and fees according to internal regulations for the outstanding debts arising from credit extension activities, except for bond purchase and investment activities for which the principal and/or interest payment is due within the period from January 23, 2020 to the next day after 03 months from the date of Prime Minister announced the end of the Covid -19 epidemic and the customer was unable to pay the debt on time, both principal and/or interest, according to the signed contract or agreement due to the decrease in revenue and income due to the impact of the Covid- 19 epidemic.

This Circular takes effect from the date of signing. From the effective date of this Circular, customers of credit institutions, foreign bank branches, other relevant organizations and individuals will have their debt repayment restructured, exemption and reduction periods, charge, keep the debt group unchanged. The Government has always issued policies, legal documents to support businesses, organizations and individuals to borrow credit during the period of the Covid -19 epidemic, so that they can help businesses as well as the country’s economy to maintain and develop in the future.

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The Ministry of Industry and Trade Receiving Request for Exemption from Applying Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures in September 2021

According to the regulations on the trade remedies in the Circular No.37/2019/TT-BCT on providing detailed regulations on trade remedy, in March and September of every year, the Trade Remedies Agency of Vietnam requires the companies which meet the conditions of exemption from apply anti-dumping and countervailing measures in the cases of AD01 (Cold rolled stainless steel products), AD02 (Galvanized steel products), AD03 and AD12 (H-Shaped steel products), AD04 (Color coated steel products), AD05 (Aluminum profiles products), AD07 (Plastics and plastic products made from polymers of propylene), AD08 (Cold rolled (cold pressed) steel in coils or sheets), AD09 (MSG), AD10 (Long yarn made of polyester), AD13-AS01 (Sugar cane), AD14 (Sorbitol).

 

Deadline for companies submitting the dossier on requiring applying for the exemption from anti-dumping and countervailing measures is before 5:00 P.M on October 09^th, 2021.

Application dossiers for applying for the exemption from anti-dumping and countervailing measures:

i) A written request for exclusion from trade;

ii) A copy of the enterprise’s certificate of business registration or investment certificate;

iii) Description of the good for which the exclusion request is submitted, including scientific name, trade name, common name; basic physical and chemical properties; main uses; production process; applicable international and domestic standards and/or regulations; HS code according to Vietnam’s nomenclature of exports and imports;

iv) The document stating information about the volume, quantity and value of the imported good for which the exclusion request is submitted (in the last 03 years and in current year);

v) The written production process of the product of which input material is the good for which the exclusion request is submitted;

vi) The demand for consumption or use of the imported good for which the exclusion request is submitted (in the past 03 years and in the current year);

vii) The prescribed or estimated level of consumption of raw material which is the good for which the exclusion request is submitted;

viii) Documents or samples proving the difference between the good for which the exclusion request is submitted and the like or directly competitive products produced by the domestic industry;

ix) The document stating information about the production line and output of the good for which the exclusion request is submitted in the past 03 years and those in the current year;

x) Documents proving the demand for use of the quantity of good for which the exclusion request is submitted, including contracts signed with customers, written approvals for in-progress projects or other relevant documents.

Note: In case the company which has been granted an exemption for 2021 is about to use up the granted exemption volume, the company can submit an additional application for exemption at any time in 2021.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

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Notice of Application for Exemption from Trade Remedies for Fertilizers, Billet and Long Steel Product

On March 03rd, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 715/QD-BCT on extending the application of safeguard measures to the goods which are imported DAP/MAP fertilizers bear the following HS codes: 3105.10.20; 3105.10.90; 3105.20.00; 3105.30.00; 3105.40.00; 3105.51.00; 3105.59.00; 3105.90.00.

 

   Notice of Application for Exemption from Trade Remedies for Fertilizers, Billet and Long Steel Product

On March 20th, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 918/QD-BCT on extending the application of safeguard measures to the goods which are imported billet and long steel products bear the following HS codes: 7207.11.00; 7207.19.00; 7207.20.29; 7207.20.99; 7224.90.00; 7213.10.10; 7213.10.90; 7213.91.20; 7214.20.31; 7214.20.41; 7227.90.00; 7228.30.10; 9811.00.00.

On March 20th, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 920/QD-BCT; on extending the application of measures to prevent evasion of trade remedies for imported coil and wire products which bear the following HS codes: 7213.91.90; 7217.10.10; 7217.10.29; 7229.90.99; 9839.10.00.

According to the regulation of Article 16.1.c Circular 37/2019/TT-BCT on November 29th, 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Trade specified some contents on trade remedy measures (Circular 37/2019/ TT-BCT) in detail. Whereby, the Trade Remedies Administration (PVTM) requests enterprises that meet the conditions to be exempted in submitting a dossier of application for exemption from the application of trade remedies in the three cases mentioned above, including: documents specified in Article 14 and Appendix 03 Circular 37/2019/TT-BCT.

According to the regulation of Articles 15 and Article 16.3 Circular 37/2019/TT-BCT, it is recommended that companies to submit their application for exemption online or directly to the Trade Remedies Department before 17:00 on October 6th, 2021.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

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The Ministry of Industry and Trade to Investigate the Dumping of Table and Chair Products Imported into Vietnam

On September 01^st, 2021 the Ministry and Trade issued the Decision No.2091/QD-BCT on investigation of application of anti-dumping measures for some table and chair products holding the HS Code: 9401.30.00; 9401.40.00; 9401.61.00; 9401.69.90; 9401.71.00; 9401.79.90; 9401.80.00; 9401.90.40; 9401.90.92; 9401.90.99; 9403.30.00; 9403.60.90; 9403.90.90 origin China and Malaysia (Case code AD16) (Decision No.2091).

 

On December 29^th, 2020 the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam received the required dossier of some domestic producers on applying anti-dumping measures of the products above. This dossier is confirmed that is valid on June 03^rd, 2021.

According to the regulation on Law on Foreign trade management, Decision No.2091, and related regulations, the period of anti-dumping investigation is 12 months from July 01^st, 2020 to June 30^th, 2021. And the investigation period for determining damage is 03 years from July 01^st, 2018 to June 30^th, 2021.

The requesting anti-dumping tax of the requesting parties is 35,20% for the table, and 21,40% for the chairs products from China. The requesting anti-dumping tax is 32,40% for table and 24,90% for chair products from Malaysia.

The Trade Remedies Authority will send an investigation questionnaire to relevant parties to collect information, analyze and evaluate the allegations, including: (i) dumping behavior of the exporting enterprises of China and Malaysia; (ii) damage to the domestic industry; and (iii) a causal relationship between dumping and damage to the domestic industry.

The related organizations, individuals having importing, exporting, trading, using the investigation products should register the related parties and provide the necessary information to the Trade Remedies Authority to ensure their rights and benefit according to the regulation of the laws.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

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Investigation against Evasion of Trade Remedies for a Cane Sugar Products from Thailand

On June 15^th, 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the Decision No. 1578/QD-BCT on imposition of official anti-dumping and countervailing duties on cane sugar products imported from kingdom of Thailand (Case No.AD13-AS01). However, on August 25^th, 2021 the Ministry of Industry and Trade received the dossier on requesting investigation against evasion of trade remedies of 06 domestic sugarcane industries.

 

According to the Decision No.1578/QD-BCT, the goods on which the official anti-dumping and countervailing duties are imposed bear the following HS codes: 1701.13.00; 1701.14.00; 1701.91.00; 1701.99.10; 1701.99.90; and 1702.90.91. The official anti-dumping duty rate is 42.99% and the official countervailing duty rate is 4.65% will be applied for 05 years since June 16^th, 2021.

Until now, the exporting turnover of the products above of other countries in ASEAN (without Thailand) increases in value. The Ministry of Industry and Trade works with The Vietnam Sugarcane Association monitors the import situation and actively consults and supports the Vietnam Sugar Association as well as the domestic sugarcane industries in collecting information, data, and building request dossiers on requesting investigation against circumvention of trade remedies with cane sugar products to ensure compliance with the provisions of Vietnam’s trade remedy law.

Acts of evading trade remedies are often complex in nature, involving many matters, legal regulations and international commitments. The countries also have different regulations on this issue. In some cases, even though goods fully meet the rules of origin, they can still be considered circumvention.

According to the regulation of Article 81.1 Decree No.01/2018/ND-CP on guidelines for the law on foreign trade management on trade remedies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed that the dossier is valid. Within 45 days after the receipt of the valid dossier, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall consider the investigation based on the results of examination of dossiers of the investigating authority.

The investigation for prevention of evasion of trade remedies includes the following contents (i) Determination of actions aiming to evade trade remedies; (ii) The change of trade flows from the originating or exporting countries after the effective date of the decision on application of trade remedies and this change is the cause of such evasion; (iii) Damage to the domestic industry or the reduced effectiveness of the effective trade remedies.

The time limit for investigation of evasion of trade remedies shall not exceed 06 months since the issuance of the investigation decision.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

Parties could consult with international trade dispute lawyers in Vietnam for assistance in responding to Vietnam authorities.

 

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