Ministry of Industry and Trade provides information on U.S. trade negotiations and investigations with Vietnam

At the Q1 2026 regular press briefing on April 9, representatives of Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) reported on the United States’ initiation of trade investigations against 16 countries and territories, including Vietnam, and on the progress of negotiations between Vietnam and the United States.

U.S. Section 301 investigations

Deputy Director Nguyen Quynh Mai of MOIT’s Multilateral Trade Policy Department said the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office has recently launched two Section 301 investigations under the 1974 Trade Act.

• One investigation examines overcapacity in 16 countries and territories.
• The second investigation examines forced labor in 60 countries and territories, including Vietnam.

Ms. Mai noted that the investigations are not limited to developing economies. They also include several developed economies with high openness, such as the European Union, Japan, and South Korea.

Vietnam’s cooperation and policy stance

MOIT said economic, trade, and investment relations between Vietnam and the United States have continued to develop positively, bringing tangible benefits to enterprises and citizens of both countries. MOIT and other relevant agencies regularly exchange with U.S. counterparts on policy issues, including tariff negotiations and the implementation of Section 301 investigations.

In the period ahead, Vietnam will continue to cooperate closely with the United States by sharing information and clarifying Vietnam’s policies. MOIT said Vietnam’s policies are designed in line with international practices of an open economy and are not intended to subsidize exports or lead to excess-capacity exports to the U.S. market.

MOIT also stated that Vietnam’s economy operates under a market mechanism and that Vietnamese enterprises’ production and business activities comply with relevant laws, including WTO rules. Vietnam’s objective is to build stable, long-term agreements and cooperation mechanisms that ensure mutual benefits for both economies.

Tariff negotiations and current U.S. tariff rate

Regarding ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, the Deputy Minister said six rounds have been conducted so far. According to MOIT, the two sides’ positions have converged on many points, while some issues still require further discussion and handling.

The Deputy Minister added that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling related to tariff policy, resulting in the rejection of some previous U.S. tariff measures. Based on this, the United States has temporarily applied Section 122, imposing a 10% tariff on goods from all countries.

MOIT said that compared with the previous tariff rate of about 20%, the current 10% rate is advantageous for Vietnamese businesses and exports to the U.S. market. However, the 10% application is temporary, with a 150-day term.

Next steps

MOIT said it continues to work with the United States to clarify the next steps. The Deputy Minister affirmed that Vietnam will continue to engage closely with U.S. counterparts to clarify related issues, aiming to achieve the best possible outcomes and protect the interests of Vietnamese enterprises and exported goods.