Vietnam's foreign ministry stated the U.S. Trade Representative's conclusion on forced labor does not fully or accurately reflect the country's mitigation efforts. The U.S. proposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, including Vietnam, based on alleged failures to curb trade in goods made with forced labor.
The dispute highlights ongoing trade tensions between the US and Vietnam, with potential implications for global supply chains and import costs if tariffs are imposed.
Vietnam's foreign ministry stated that the U.S. Trade Representative's conclusion regarding its failure to curb trade in goods made with forced labor does not fully or accurately reflect the country's mitigation efforts. Foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang affirmed that Vietnam's policy strictly prohibits any form of forced labor and complies with the regulations of the International Labour Organization. This assertion comes after the Trump administration proposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, including Vietnam, based on similar findings. U.S. data indicated that the trade deficit with Vietnam reached $54.8 billion in the first three months of the year, second only to Taiwan and higher than deficits with China and Mexico. Vietnam has been targeted by the Trump administration for alleged trade distortion, intellectual property violations, and the use of goods from forced labor. Vietnam plans to continue exchanging information and working constructively with the United States to resolve disagreements while protecting the interests of its workers and businesses.