Many new challenges
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , by mid-2025, Vietnam had faced more than 291 trade defense cases from export markets around the world. In the first half of 2025 alone, Vietnamese exports faced 14 newly initiated foreign trade defense cases from 9 markets, with the United States continuing to be the country investigating the most cases with 6.
In recent years, trade defense investigations against Vietnamese exports have not only increased in number but also become more complex, with many countries investigating unprecedented issues and the range of products under investigation becoming increasingly diverse. These cases pose numerous challenges for Vietnamese exports, particularly the risk of losing market share in key markets, increased legal costs, and damage to business reputation. Furthermore, trade defense measures force Vietnamese businesses to enhance their competitiveness, improve product quality, and increase transparency in their production and business operations.
Conversely, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has initiated investigations into 59 trade defense cases involving imported goods into the Vietnamese market, and 31 trade defense measures remain in effect. These measures have yielded practical benefits, protecting and facilitating the formation and development of several fundamental industries, construction industries, and consumer goods industries such as metallurgy, chemicals, building materials, and agricultural processing.
According to Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director of the Trade Remedies Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the annual revenue of Vietnamese businesses protected by trade defense measures is estimated at nearly 500,000 billion VND, employing over 36,000 direct workers and hundreds of thousands of indirect workers, ensuring economic security and social welfare in provinces and cities nationwide.
Building proactive and effective defense capabilities.
Last August, Hoa Phat Group announced that its hot-rolled steel coils exported to India were not subject to anti-dumping duties, as the dumping margin was within the 0-10% range. This success is attributed to Hoa Phat's optimization of production costs, improvement of quality to international standards, transparent accounting systems, and close cooperation with Indian investigating authorities. Previously, some Vietnamese steel products, including those of the group, had been subject to anti-dumping investigations initiated by India. This positive outcome reflects the internal capabilities, international legal experience, and maturity of Vietnamese businesses, helping Hoa Phat strengthen its competitive advantage and overcome trade barriers in the Indian market.
According to Dinh Quoc Thai, Secretary General of the Vietnam Steel Association, after facing numerous trade defense investigations, the association and steel businesses have gradually professionalized their operations, meeting the requirements of investigating agencies in other countries. With thorough preparation from within the businesses themselves, many cases have yielded noteworthy results. "However, the success of trade defense efforts depends greatly on close coordination among all relevant parties, including businesses, industry associations, state agencies, and Vietnamese trade offices abroad," Mr. Dinh Quoc Thai stated.
Meanwhile, Vu Van Phu, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Aluminum Profile Association, shared that the aluminum industry has intensified its efforts to inform businesses about the trend of protecting domestic production in export markets and advised businesses to proactively equip themselves with knowledge of trade defense and implement various solutions to protect their industry and businesses.
Deputy Director of the Trade Remedies Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) Chu Thang Trung emphasized that Vietnamese businesses are increasingly improving their legal capacity, quality, and transparency in production and business. Regularly updating regulations and trade policies of various markets is a key factor in reducing risks and avoiding violations. Businesses need to build a team of legal and trade experts to analyze, evaluate, and develop appropriate response strategies. Simultaneously, they should strengthen international cooperation, participate in industry associations, and leverage free trade agreements to expand markets. In addition, investing in technology and digitizing production and business processes will help optimize costs, improve efficiency, and meet customer needs. Building a strong brand, coupled with transparency and long-term commitment, will help businesses not only maintain market share but also expand into international markets.
In the coming period, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will strengthen research and forecasting of global trade trends to identify risks early; promote training of officials in trade defense skills; build a modern database, integrate information from other countries, and promote international cooperation to enhance response capabilities. The Ministry will also focus on disseminating knowledge to businesses, helping them proactively protect their legitimate rights. These solutions aim to strengthen domestic capabilities and ensure Vietnam maintains its position in the context of deep integration.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/phong-ve-thuong-mai-truc-nhieu-thach-thuc-moi-716007.html
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