As of Apr 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S valued US$115.1 million, up 7.2% compared to the same last year, accounting for 22.7% of total export value.

So far, Vietnamese pangasius products have competed strongly with tilapia products in the U.S. According to ITC, in QI/2016, Vietnam’s pangasius products took up over 19%, while tilapia items accounted for nearly 45% of the total import value of whitefish into the U.S. In addition, pangasius products from Vietnam also had to compete with some other whitefish species such as Cod, Alaska Pollock, or Haddock.

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s catfish inspection program, which took from Mar 2016, as well as high anti-dumping duty had some impacts on Vietnam’s pangasius exports to this market in QI/2016. In the late February 2016, the export price from Vietnam ranged from US$2.00- 2.05/kg.

On May, 25^th 2016, the Senate voted to reverse a controversial change to the USDA’s catfish inspections in the session of the Senate. In an 55-43 vote, the Senate passed catfish inspection rollback by Senator John McCain, who sponsored the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

The resolution heads to the House. If the House passes the measure, President Barack Obama is not expected to veto it. His administration has called the catfish inspection change wasteful and proposed cutting it from the budget.

However, the market share for Vietnamese pangasius in the U.S is still large thanks to stable demand and high import price. In QII/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S expect to increase by 10-15% compared to the same period last year.