As global trade remains uncertain in 2025, the United States continues to be Vietnam’s largest export market. However, the U.S. has increasingly applied tariffs and trade defense tools to protect domestic industries, creating significant challenges for Vietnamese exporters.

This article explores the implications, recent developments, and what Vietnamese businesses can do to adapt.

 

 

1. Rising U.S. Trade Protection – A Trend to Watch Closely

Under the banner of “protecting fair trade and domestic jobs,” the U.S. is expanding its use of:

• Anti-dumping duties
• Countervailing duties
• Investigations into origin fraud and circumvention
• Tighter rules on traceability, documentation, and rules of origin

High-risk product categories include:

• Furniture and wood products
• Steel and mechanical parts
• Textiles and apparel
• Seafood (especially shrimp and pangasius)
• Renewable energy products (solar panels, batteries)

2. Real-World Impacts on Vietnamese Exports

Loss of Price Competitiveness

Tariffs ranging from 30% to over 200% can immediately eliminate pricing advantages, causing U.S. buyers to shift to suppliers in India, Turkey, or Mexico.

Longer Clearance Times & Port Delays

Products under investigation or suspicion can be detained for inspection, leading to delays, extra warehousing costs, and even breach of contract.

Higher Compliance Costs

Businesses must invest in detailed documentation, verified certificates of origin, and legal defense in trade remedy cases.

3. Recent Notable Cases

• Jan 2025: U.S. launched an anti-dumping investigation on battery storage devices from Vietnam
• 2024: Vietnamese plywood products were hit with temporary duties due to suspected Chinese-origin core material
• Shrimp: A new average anti-dumping duty of 4.58% imposed after the 19th administrative review
• Textiles: Stricter sourcing regulations to avoid cotton from Xinjiang (China), impacting Vietnamese firms relying on Chinese inputs

 

4. How Vietnamese Exporters Can Respond

 Monitor Early Warnings & Trade Policies

• Stay updated through the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Trade Remedies Authority, and Commercial Affairs Office in the U.S.
• Build an internal team to track trade news and provide timely responses.

Improve Transparency of Supply Chains

• Maintain clean, verifiable documentation for materials, production, and logistics
• Use QR codes, or digital traceability platforms

Join Industry Associations for Support

• Groups like VASEP (Seafood), VITAS (Textile), and VIFORES (Furniture) offer legal aid and help coordinate responses to trade actions

5. Proactive, Not Reactive – The New Export Mindset

Exporting to the U.S. is no longer an easy game. The rules are stricter, competition fiercer, and the margin for error smaller. However, prepared and compliant exporters still have great potential to expand and thrive.

The key:

• Understand the law – Follow the law – Adapt early
• Add value – Build brand trust – Strengthen compliance systems

 

Conclusion

U.S. trade defenses are not just barriers — they’re also a wake-up call for Vietnamese exporters to upgrade in every dimension. In today’s global supply chain, sustainable, ethical, and compliant businesses will win.

Investing in risk management today is safeguarding your market access for tomorrow. And we, Noble Network, will always accompany your business on the path to building and developing the bilateral international trade relationship between Vietnam and the United States safely and sustainably.