Helping local businesses boost exports to US A workshop was held in HCM City on September 24 to update businesses on new legal regulations of the US and make recommendations to help them successfully penetrate this lucrative market. Vietnam fetched nearly US$23.9 billion from exports to the US last year, a year-on-year increase of 17.5% and US$16 billion in the first 7 months of this year, a rise of 24%. Bui Hoang Yen, an official of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the US is one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners, yet inherent weaknesses prevent businesses from entering and expanding this market. She said one of Vietnamese businesses’ drawbacks in exporting their agro-forestry and seafood products, food and pharmaceuticals to the US is their poor knowledge of the US’s import regulations and relevant procedures. David Lennarz, Vice President of the US Registrar Corp, said the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) often seeks to investigate foreign food producers at risk, several peculiar products refused to enter the US, and new businesses exporting products in bulk. Goods at high risk include acidic food, seafood, fruits, fresh vegetables and spices. David warned that Vietnamese exporters must inform the FDA before shipping products to the US and declare all shipments by sea, air, and road or via DHL. Businesses should be aware of labelling regulations, product ingredient clarification and health notices, he suggested.  VOV