The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV), operating under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, recently unveiled a roster of products deemed at high risk of evading trade remedy measures. Among these, 15 items destined for the US market find themselves in the crosshairs, alongside two products bound for Mexico and one earmarked for Australia.

At the forefront are wood and plywood products, with Harmonised System (HS) codes ranging from 4412.31 to 4412.99, targeted for potential evasion investigations dating back to July 2019. This scrutiny comes in the wake of the US's imposition of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy taxes on similar Chinese exports since November 2017. Notably, wooden cabinets for kitchens and bathrooms, with HS codes 9403.40, 9403.60, and 9403.90, face intensified scrutiny due to alleged transshipment practices.

The TRAV highlights a group of wooden bedroom furniture and sofas, along with slat wood and wooden border strips, as items drawing concern due to their significant share in Vietnamese wood product exports to the US. Ceramic tiles and artificial quartz stones form the second group, facing heightened scrutiny following the US's imposition of tariffs on Chinese-manufactured artificial quartz stone products in May 2019.

Moreover, the TRAV points out certain steel and aluminum products destined for the US market as potential subjects of investigation, encompassing corrosion-resistant carbon steel, steel pipes, prestressed steel cables, aluminum wire and cables, as well as aluminum bars, rods, and profiles. Industrial manufacturing products, including solar energy panels, electric bicycles, large domestic washing machines, and truck and bus tires, round out the list, with electric bicycle products destined for the EU also under the regulatory lens.

As Vietnam seeks to solidify its position in global trade, these investigations underscore the challenges it faces in navigating international commerce while adhering to trade regulations and standards.