Section 301 Probe of Vietnam Extended

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has delayed for three months the deadline for completing a Section 301 investigation into whether Vietnam’s persistent failure to resolve longstanding concerns about intellectual property protection and enforcement is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.

USTR has previously said it is evaluating the following topics as part of this probe.

– the acts, policies, and practices underlying Vietnam’s designation as a priority foreign country in USTR’s most recent annual Special 301 report on IPR issues

– other acts, policies, and practices of Vietnam related to the denial of adequate and effective IPR protection and the denial of fair and equitable market access to persons that rely on IPR protection

– whether the acts, policies, and practices of Vietnam are unreasonable or discriminatory

– whether the acts, policies, and practices of Vietnam burden or restrict U.S. commerce and, if so, the nature and level of such burden or restriction

– whether the acts, policies, and practices of Vietnam are actionable under section 301(b) of the Trade Act and what, if any, action should be taken, including tariff and non-tariff actions

USTR had been scheduled to issue a final determination by Nov. 29 but has extended that deadline to Feb. 28, 2027, because “the investigation involves complex or complicated issues that require additional time.”