HCMC—The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has published a list of products that could potentially be subjected to U.S. trade remedies and origin fraud investigations.
The list includes hardwood plywood, kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, wood-framed sofas, and electric bicycles.
In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) concluded its investigation into plywood imports. It said that anti-dumping and countervailing duties might be imposed on plywood imports from Vietnam if rotary veneer from China had been used. These products fall under various Harmonized System (HS) codes, such as 4412.31 and 4412.32.
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets have been flagged since April 2020, and the DOC is expected to release preliminary findings in October 2023, with final conclusions in January 2024. These cabinets are classified under HS codes like 9403.40, 9403.60, and 9403.90.
Wood-framed sofas, identified by the HS code 9401.61, have been on the warning list since November 2020 and are currently subject to a 25% U.S. tariff due to their Chinese origin.
The ministry has also issued warnings regarding other products, including artificial quartz stone slabs and ceramic tiles (HS codes 6810.99 and 6907.21, respectively). Electric bicycles are also put on the list, with Vietnamese authorities recently taking action against false origin declarations for these products.
Gas cylinders have been flagged since October 2019, with exports to the U.S. totaling US$23.6 million between July 2022 and June 2023, accounting for 4.5% of total U.S. imports of the same product.
Solar energy batteries, categorized under HS code 8501.71, have been on the alert list since September 2021.
The ministry’s list also encompasses items such as carton staples, wooden strips, corrosion-resistant carbon steel, large household washing machines, and aluminum cables, all of which could potentially face U.S. trade sanctions.
