Vietnam faces growing trade defense probes as exports surge

Businesses in Vietnam coped with 257 trade defense investigations from 24 markets from January to August, including 141 anti-dumping, 52 safeguard, 37 anti-circumvention, and 27 countervailing duty cases, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

The number of cases increased to 263 in September, with trade defense investigations becoming more rigorous, said Chu Thang Trung, deputy director general of the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the MoIT.

Steel, chemicals, plastics, and wooden products remain primary targets for these trade actions.

The U.S. is the primary initiator of trade defense and anti-circumvention cases against products imported from Vietnam, reported Vietnam News Agency.

Rising Vietnamese exports and the country’s non-market economy status have made its goods frequent targets for U.S. investigations, said Do Ngoc Hung, minister counselor and head of the Trade Office at the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.S.

To mitigate the challenges, local exporters are advised to prioritize quality over cost to avoid trade disputes and maintain their global competitiveness.

Experts recommend a comprehensive Government report on trade defense, improved industry knowledge of international trade rules, and stronger cooperation between businesses and government agencies.

Source: The Saigon Times