US investigates Vietnam IP practices

The Trump administration, through the United States — United States Trade Representative, has launched an unfair trade practices investigation into Vietnam's intellectual property protection policies and enforcement. This action stems from Vietnam's persistent failure to address long-standing concerns regarding IP infringement, despite some recent efforts. The investigation, a Section 301 probe similar to one previously used against China, could result in new tariffs or other trade measures against Vietnam. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized that infringement continues to harm U.S. innovators and creators. While experts like Dan Schneider acknowledge Vietnam's progress in modernizing its IP framework, challenges in implementation, uneven administrative enforcement, and rampant online infringement persist. Counterfeit goods remain widely available in Vietnam, and pirated content is prevalent online. This investigation follows previous tariff actions and ongoing trade agreement negotiations between the United States and Vietnam.