ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The USA Rice Federation last week added Vietnam to its list of foreign competitors, including Brazil, Thailand and India that it considers to be engaging in unfair trade practices related to rice marketing and production. 

The decision by the rice advocacy group to include Vietnam among nations failing to adhere to World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines occurred after a Texas rice mill imported long-grain milled rice from Vietnam. The USA Rice Federation advocates only the use of U.S.-grown rice in the domestic market. 

USA Rice said it considers certain practices by the Vietnamese rice industry to be in violation of international trade rules since Vietnam joined the WTO in 2008. The USA Rice Federation alleged that Vietnam has not disclosed its domestic support programs since joining the WTO. Questions remain about whether the country uses export subsidies, the U.S. rice advocacy group added.