At a glance: Vietnam’s total trade hit a record $659.58B (+28.1% YoY) in 7M 2026. The $20.52B trade deficit was heavily driven by a surge in production input imports (94.1% of total imports) to fuel manufacturing expansion for H2 order cycles. The FDI sector dominated with 80.1% of exports, while the U.S. ($104.7B) and China …
Read more “Vietnam Trade Hits $659.58B in 7 Months — Up 28.1% YoY”
At a glance: In the first half of July 2026, WTO members issued 51 new SPS notifications (27 already in force), signaling a strict global tightening of food safety and phytosanitary standards. Major export markets – including the EU, US, South Korea, and China – are introducing critical changes, most notably the EU’s drastic reduction …
Read more “51 New SPS Notifications in 15 Days: What Vietnamese Agri-Exporters Need to Know”
At a glance: On July 3, 2026, PSA International – one of the world’s leading port operators, headquartered in Singapore – signed an agreement with Lach Huyen International Logistics & Industrial Park (LHF) to jointly develop and operate four deep-sea container berths at Lach Huyen Port, Haiphong. Total investment: $945 million. Annual handling capacity when …
At a glance: July 1, 2026 marks one of the largest regulatory resets Vietnam’s trade and logistics sector has seen in years. Over 200 legal instruments – roughly 29 laws, 49 decrees, and 72 circulars – took effect on a single day, spanning tax administration, customs, product quality, e-commerce, civil aviation, high technology, and chemicals. …
Read more “Vietnam Logistics & Customs Regulation Update: 15 Key Changes Effective July 1, 2026”
At a glance: Global ocean carrier MSC is restructuring its Intra-Asia network, headlined by the discontinuation of the Bayan Ko service (connecting the Pearl River Delta directly to Vietnam and the Philippines). To maintain market connectivity, MSC is redistributing fleet capacity into two upgraded services – Saola and Sambar – ensuring continuous nationwide coverage across …
Read more “MSC Drops Bayan Ko — Here’s How It Affects Your Vietnam Shipments”
At a glance: From July 1, 2026, the EU ends its de minimis exemption for shipments valued at €150 or less, introducing a €3 customs duty per declaration line. Alongside this, the EU now requires three product identifiers — Merchant Product Identifier, Non-standardised Manufacturer Product Identifier, and Standardised Manufacturer Product Identifier (where applicable) — for …
At a glance: On July 1, 2026 – less than three weeks away – the EU’s new steel safeguard regulation replaces the framework that has been in place since 2018. Import quotas drop by approximately 47%, out-of-quota duties double from 25% to 50%, and a new “melt and pour” origin rule threatens to reduce Vietnam’s …
Read more “EU Steel Safeguard Overhaul Takes Effect July 1: What Vietnamese Exporters Need to Know”
At a glance: On June 9, 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade formally submitted to the Government a draft Decree establishing clear criteria for what qualifies as “Made in Vietnam” for goods circulating in the domestic market. The move closes a regulatory gap that has existed for years – and arrives at a critical …
At a glance: In the span of three months, USTR has opened or advanced three separate Section 301 investigations directly targeting Vietnam – covering intellectual property, forced labor, and structural excess manufacturing capacity. Each carries different tariff exposure and sits at a different stage of the process. Together, they represent the most concentrated application of …
Read more “Vietnam Faces Three Simultaneous Section 301 Investigations: A Complete Picture”
At a glance: On June 3, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing a comprehensive overhaul of U.S. customs enforcement, targeting transshipment fraud, undervaluation, and forced labor imports. The order does not impose new tariffs, but it significantly raises the compliance bar for importers of Vietnamese-origin goods, with a 180-day implementation deadline of approximately …