The U.S. administration is ramping up import tariffs, raising concerns that Vietnam could become a transshipment point for goods that avoid high U.S. tariffs. Vietnamese exporters face scrutiny amid U.S. tariff measures While Vietnam has not been directly targeted by recent U.S. tariffs, its large trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy makes it vulnerable to stricter trade policy, potential tariffs, and intensified scrutiny of goods origin. Experts warn that Vietnam may become a workaround for goods evading U.S. tariffs, particularly as the U.S.-China trade war escalates. With higher tariffs on Chinese goods, some businesses might reroute their products through Vietnam to bypass U.S. tariffs. This issue is not new. During the 2018-2019 U.S.-China trade war, the U.S. repeatedly flagged concerns over fake origin labeling and illegal transshipment, leading to hefty tariffs on certain Vietnamese exports. Nguyen Quoc Viet, deputy director of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), emphasized the importance of vigilance, saying: “We have to be extremely careful and avoid being seen as a key player in Chinese companies’ tariff evasion schemes.” At a November 2024 meeting between Vietnamese ambassadors and business associations in southern Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, chairwoman of the Vietnam Association […]