Vietnam Launches IP Crackdown Following US Priority Foreign Country Designation

The Government of Vietnam launched a nationwide crackdown on intellectual property (IP) violations from May 7 to May 30, 2026, following a designation by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as a Priority Foreign Country. This classification, the first for any nation in 13 years, cited egregious IP practices including ineffective online copyright enforcement and insufficient control of counterfeit goods. The USTR warned that these failures could trigger a Section 301 investigation, potentially leading to new tariffs on Vietnamese exports.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung issued Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg, mandating a coordinated enforcement campaign under a no forbidden zones, no exceptions principle. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and other officials ordered government ministries to increase the detection and handling of copyright and trademark infringement cases by at least 20 percent compared to May 2025.

Specific mandates include the Ministry of Public Security dismantling high-traffic piracy websites, while the Ministry of Finance and customs officials are tasked with increasing the suspension of clearance for counterfeit imports. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism must also increase handled software and media copyright cases. While the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged local businesses to audit their compliance to mitigate trade risks, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry has called for an objective review of its protection efforts.