US opens Section 301 IP investigation into Vietnam over enforcement failures

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has opened a Section 301 investigation and designated Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country for intellectual‑property (IP) violations. The move follows a April 30 listing that cites online piracy, counterfeiting, inadequate border enforcement, unlicensed software use and the lack of criminal penalties for cable‑signal theft. USTR senior official Jamieson Greer said, “We need to see Vietnam resolve these long‑standing concerns… in a manner that is sustained and that deters future IP infringements.”

Vietnam has enacted recent legislative reforms, such as Decree 341 and an amended IP law, but enforcement has weakened after a sweeping administrative restructuring that cut many enforcement staff and transferred provincial market‑surveillance units to local committees. Law firm partner Leif Schneider noted that “the difficulty … is more about implementation” and that online infringement continues to outpace regulatory capacity. The investigation could lead to new tariffs or other trade measures, adding pressure on the ongoing U.S.–Vietnam trade agreement negotiations.