Vietnam export sector regulatory and trade risks

Vietnamese export enterprises are facing increased scrutiny from both domestic customs authorities and international trade regulators regarding compliance and trade defense risks.

In Hung Yen province, the Customs Department Region IV has identified 14 specific risk groups for export processing enterprises. These risks span production facility supervision, tax-exempt goods management, declaration accuracy, and intellectual property compliance. Authorities warned that failure to report changes to production sites, warehouse layouts, or surveillance camera systems could lead to significant tax arrears. While these enterprises represent only 4.89% of the province's import-export businesses, they generate 7.56 billion USD in turnover, accounting for 36% of the total value.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has expanded its monitoring, issuing an official notice regarding 50 export categories at high risk of trade defense investigations, origin fraud, and illegal transshipment. This list covers seven major sectors: wood products, iron and steel, construction materials, processed industrial products, chemicals, plastics, and textiles.

Authorities noted that high market shares can trigger scrutiny even as export volumes decline. For example, despite a 6.7% drop in wood-framed upholstered chair exports to the U.S. in early 2026, Vietnam maintained a 61.6% market share. Officials suspect some rapid growth may involve processing materials from countries facing high duties, such as China, to circumvent trade barriers. Consequently, customs departments have been directed to tighten border controls to identify these risks in major markets including the U.S., EU, Australia, Brazil, and India.