Vietnamese exporters strengthen resilience against trade barriers

Trade defense is no longer a reactive concern for individual exporters, but an essential risk management requirement across Vietnam's entire agricultural value chain to safeguard key foreign markets.

With 17 active free trade agreements (FTAs), rapid export growth has heightened exposure to overseas trade remedy investigations and non-tariff "green barriers." However, a survey by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) revealed that 68% of domestic enterprises remain unprepared for trade defense, leaving them vulnerable due to a lack of structured data and contingency plans.

In response, local authorities and industry experts urge a structural shift toward data transparency and proactive governance.

In Can Tho City, the agricultural hub of the Mekong Delta, building transparent raw material zones is treated as a core priority.

Huynh Ngoc Dung, Deputy Head of the Can Tho Quality, Processing, and Market Development Sub-department, said the city has digitalised farm records, issued 657 planting area codes covering over 11,000 hectares, and granted 45 packaging facility codes. This digital database equips exporters with verifiable proof of origin when facing foreign anti-dumping or anti-subsidy inquiries.

Nguyen Thi Thuong Linh, Deputy Director of VCCI Mekong Delta, stressed that compliance must evolve from a burden into a strategy for long-term competitiveness.

She urged enterprises, especially those sourcing from unorganised networks, to work hand in hand with local partners to build transparent supply chains, meeting strict ESG and sustainability standards in major markets like the US and the EU.

From a policy perspective, Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director General of the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, noted that foreign investigations are expanding into agricultural commodities due to product uniformity.

He called on business leaders to treat trade defense as a permanent operational risk, while committing that state agencies will support exporters through robust legal frameworks, diplomatic backing, and early warning systems to detect investigation risks early.

Ultimately, global integration is no longer a race on prices, but a competition for transparency and trust. Building standardized raw material zones alongside comprehensive data and traceability systems remains essential for Vietnamese exporters to penetrate demanding markets, elevate product value, and secure their international standing.

Trade ministry extends sugar trade remedies for another five years

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