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 …
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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: Vietnam’s trade balance swung to a deficit of $15.36 billion in H1 2026 – a sharp reversal from a $7.6 billion surplus in the same period last year. The headline number looks alarming, but the composition of imports tells a different story: manufacturers are frontloading production inputs – electronics components (+50.5%), machinery …
Read more “Vietnam Swings to $15B Trade Deficit: Warning Sign or Full Factory Floor?”
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 …
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At a glance: On June 2, 2026, USTR released findings from 60 Section 301 investigations into forced labor practices globally. Vietnam was among the countries recommended for an additional 12.5% tariff. This development runs parallel to the Section 301 IP investigation launched May 29 — placing Vietnam at the center of two concurrent U.S. trade …
At a glance: On May 29, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative formally initiated a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam’s intellectual property protection and enforcement practices. The probe follows Vietnam’s designation as a “Priority Foreign Country” in USTR’s 2026 Special 301 Report and may ultimately lead to tariffs or other trade measures — adding a new …
Read more “USTR Formally Launches Section 301 IP Investigation into Vietnam”