Trump Administration Launches Intellectual Property Probe Into Vietnam
The United States government is investigating Vietnam for intellectual property violations, designating it a priority foreign country and considering new tariffs by November 29.
The Trump administration is conducting a trade probe into Vietnam's alleged intellectual property violations, with a deadline for the investigation set for November 29. Vietnam is the first jurisdiction in 13 years to be designated as a priority foreign country on the U.S. watchlist, following accusations from the U.S. government regarding a persistent failure to protect intellectual property.
American businesses are divided over the potential imposition of new tariffs. Tesla and Samsung oppose such measures, arguing that U.S. manufacturers rely heavily on Vietnamese supply chains for smartphones and advanced components. In contrast, copyright holders including the Motion Picture Association and the Business Software Alliance, along with industry groups for steel, seafood, solar panels, and wood products, are calling for penalties to combat widespread piracy and unfair practices.
Vietnam already faces a 12.5% general tariff imposed in July over concerns regarding forced labor. The current probe focuses specifically on the enforcement of intellectual property laws and the prevalence of unlicensed software.
