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The Senate voted to kill the USDA catfish inspection program yesterday. This will be a major victory for free trade in seafood if the amendment also passes the House. The threat of a trade war with Vietnam, along with a highly critical GAO report that recommended Congress repeal the authority over catfish given to the USDA in 2008, helped turn the tide. If enacted this will be the third major victory for more open seafood trade over the last few years. The first was repeal of the Byrd Amendment, removing the financial incentive for companies to bring anti-dumping suits. The second was the loss of 'zeroing', ruled illegal by the WTO that took away much of the calculations the Commerce Dept. used to argue for anti-dumping duties. And the third will be the repeal of the USDA catfish authority, if completed.