The number of trade defense lawsuits by importing countries against Vietnamese goods is increasingly "multiplied" to many countries, so it is necessary to increase early warnings so that businesses can prepare to respond.
This information was presented at a seminar on early warning of trade defense, maintaining advantages for Vietnamese export goods, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on November 6 in Hanoi.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, Director of the WTO and Integration Center, Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), from 2017 (when the trend of protectionism and defense in the world increased) to now, about 6 years, the number of trade defense cases has increased much faster than the previous period.
 |
Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, Director of WTO and Integration Center, Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) |
Specifically, from 2017 to present, the number of trade defense cases that Vietnamese export goods have faced in foreign markets accounts for over 52% of the total number of trade defense cases that we have faced in the past 30 years. Of which, the number of anti-circumvention cases that we have been sued for from 2017 to present accounts for nearly 60% of the total number of anti-circumvention cases that we have faced so far.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang also said that currently, the number of products being "scrutinized" is also increasing, with nearly 40 products being sued for trade defense, including products that we have just promoted and the turnover is not too large.
Furthermore, lawsuits only appear in key export markets, but up to now, there are also new markets with a very large number of trade defense cases.
Of the total 235 cases to date, the US market accounts for 23%, India 14%, Türkiye 10%, followed by Canada, EU, Philippines, Indonesia. To date, a total of 24 markets have filed trade defense lawsuits against Vietnamese goods.
 |
Mr. Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director of the Department of Trade Defense, Ministry of Industry and Trade |
From the perspective of a state management agency, Mr. Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director of the Department of Trade Defense, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that after the Prime Minister's Decision 316, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has upgraded the warning system for goods at risk of being investigated for trade defense.
This system is currently monitoring about 170 Vietnamese export products to markets, including many key export markets, which are also markets that regularly have trade defense investigations, such as the United States, EU, Canada, Australia, India, etc.
Participating in the discussion, Mr. Do Ngoc Hung, Commercial Counselor, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the United States, informed that the United States has been Vietnam's main and largest export market in recent times.
Export turnover to the United States accounts for about 30% of Vietnam's total export turnover to countries around the world and accounts for more than 30% of the export turnover of ASEAN countries. This shows that Vietnam has always been an important and sustainable partner of the United States. "However, there are also risks of trade defense," Mr. Hung noted.
According to statistics, the rate of US trade defense cases applied to Vietnam accounts for about 53% of the total number of trade defense cases against Vietnam's export goods. Therefore, the risks of trade defense are also increasingly greater.
“US businesses are very aware of their rights and tools when imported goods compete fiercely, causing damage to domestic production. Therefore, the number of cases has increased in recent times,” said Mr. Do Ngoc Hung.
In fact, in addition to the U.S. Department of Commerce, other agencies such as the International Trade Commission, U.S. Customs or Border Protection can investigate trade defense cases.
The Vietnamese Trade Counselor in the United States highly appreciated the role of the early warning system because it provides more time for businesses to prepare the necessary resources to respond when a lawsuit occurs. In fact, when being sued, Vietnamese businesses will have to invest a lot of effort and human resources, time and finance to participate throughout the investigation process of the case, usually about 12 months.
The early warning system of the State management agency helps provide more time for businesses to provide and arrange records and documents, especially accounting books and import-export documents as verification documents for the US authorities if sued. This will create a proactive advantage for businesses to respond.
The Deputy Director of the Trade Defense Department added that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to support businesses focusing on industries with high risks of being investigated and applying trade defense measures; provide more detailed guidance to businesses on the response process, and will expand early warning activities to new markets such as Southeast Asia, Turkey, etc., in addition to key markets such as the United States, the EU, Canada, Australia, India, etc.
Comment (0)