USTR initiated a Section 301 investigation on May 29, 2026, concerning Vietnam’s acts, policies, and practices related to intellectual-property protection and enforcement.

A Section 301 investigation is a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) process used to examine whether a foreign government’s acts, policies, or practices are unreasonable, discriminatory, or burden U.S. commerce. In this case, the subject is Vietnam’s intellectual-property (IP) protection and enforcement, including issues such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, or the enforcement of those rights. An investigation is not itself a finding that a violation occurred and does not automatically create an import duty.

The investigation may affect businesses importing goods connected to Vietnam, depending on any later findings, actions, or product scope. Possible outcomes can include negotiations, monitoring, or trade measures such as additional duties or import restrictions. An importer should distinguish the measure’s legal authority and status from any actual tariff treatment, which is normally identified by the product’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) classification, country of origin, and applicable official instructions. IP concerns may also create commercial risks involving counterfeit goods, unauthorized use of protected designs, or supply-chain documentation, separate from customs duty liability.

What to check

• Confirm the investigation’s current status, scope, and any published findings or proposed actions through official USTR and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources.
• Classify the product correctly under the HTSUS and verify its country of origin; do not assume that shipment location alone determines origin.
• Check whether an official measure identifies the product by HTSUS subheading, product description, exclusions, or other scope language, and compare that language with the actual merchandise.
• Review supplier records, licenses, and production documents supporting IP ownership or authorization, especially for branded, patented, copyrighted, or design-sensitive goods.
• Ask a customs broker or trade counsel to review ambiguous product scope, origin, IP authorization, or any potential additional duty before entry.