In 2025, the trend of trade protectionism continues to increase globally, leading to a significant increase in the number of trade defense investigations against Vietnamese exports, with unprecedented complexity and increasingly diverse scopes of investigation.

The cases involved products ranging from high-export value items like solar panels (approximately $4.2 billion) and shrimp ($800 million) to low-export value items such as fiber molded trays ($50 million) and paper plates ($9 million),…

To date, there have been 298 trade defense investigations from 25 markets and territories against goods. export Viet Nam's import tariffs include 21 new cases initiated in 2025. Steel alone faces 9 new import tariffs, and many countries have also issued regulations to restrict steel imports, such as the US increasing tariffs, Canada applying import quotas and out-of-quota duties, and India adding regulations on input material standards, etc.

Nevertheless, thanks to close coordination between management agencies and associations and businesses, the response to trade defense cases in the past has achieved many positive results, protecting Vietnamese exports and ensuring fair treatment, as well as safeguarding the legitimate rights of exporting businesses.

For example, Canada concluded that semi-trailers imported from Viet Nam did not evade anti-dumping duties; the United States issued its final conclusion for the 20th review of anti-dumping duties on pangasius and basa fish, accordingly... export businesses Viet Nam is eligible for review to enjoy a 0% tax rate…

Currently, the Trade Remedies Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) is closely monitoring export fluctuations of more than 420 items to 10 markets that frequently conduct trade defense investigations, especially 27 high-risk product groups subject to investigation, in order to continuously provide information and help ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses avoid being caught off guard in responding to such situations. However, with Viet Nam's export capacity growing, Vietnamese exports may face an increasing number of investigations and applications of trade defense measures by foreign countries.

Therefore, relevant agencies need to continue closely monitoring the developments in protectionist trends and global trade conflicts; research and report on changes in trade defense regulations of other countries, especially regulations that are likely to significantly impact Viet Nam, in order to provide timely information to management agencies and the business community to proactively respond. At the same time, they should enhance the trade defense capacity of domestic industries; integrate trade defense content into industry development programs, strategies, and policies to adequately protect domestic industries, especially in the context of implementing new generation FTAs.

From the perspective of businesses, enhancing trade defense capabilities has become an urgent and vital requirement if they want to participate in global supply chains. Therefore, businesses need a strategy to diversify markets and supply sources, avoiding over-concentration on a single market that is frequently subject to trade defense investigations.

Source: Quang Ninh News

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