The Trade Remedy Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized a conference on January 8 to review its 2025 operations and deploy tasks for 2026. 

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan alongside the leadership and the entire staff of the Trade Remedy Authority of Vietnam.

Adapting flexibly to global trade protectionism challenges

In 2025, the global trade protectionism trend intensified through measures such as tariffs, subsidies, and quotas. Amidst deep integration via various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Vietnam faced dual challenges between protectionism and trade liberalization. At the conference, Deputy Director General Tran Do Quyen stated that the Authority achieved outstanding results in institutional building, administrative reform, and business support.

Regarding the institutional framework, the Authority submitted for issuance one Decree and five Circulars, abolished one administrative procedure, and implemented two level-4 procedures. The completion of the TRAV Online system phase 2 has helped optimize the processing of investigation dossiers. 

In terms of FTA implementation, the Authority actively negotiated and coordinated within the WTO framework. Notably, the number of countries recognizing Vietnam as a market economy has increased to 74. To date, Vietnam has applied 48 trade remedy measures, protecting domestic revenue estimated at VND 600 trillion, creating jobs for over 56,000 workers, and contributing VND 1.5 trillion to the national budget.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan directed that in 2026, the Authority must be proactive and flexible in the face of protectionist trends. Key tasks include reviewing and amending the Law on Foreign Trade Management, promoting its role in protecting domestic production, and stepping up communication and data digitalization for early warning. Director General Luong Hoang Thai affirmed the determination to protect the legitimate interests of enterprises and ensure economic security.

Proactivity, flexibility, and enhancing trade remedy efficiency

In his keynote address at the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasized that the trend of trade protectionism will continue to rise in 2026, requiring the Trade Remedy Authority of Vietnam to be proactive, flexible, and enhance its operational efficiency. The Deputy Minister requested the Authority to focus on key tasks.

First, in 2026, the Authority must urgently review and coordinate with relevant units to amend and finalize the Law on Foreign Trade Management, creating a solid legal corridor for trade remedy activities.

Second, the Trade Remedy Authority of Vietnam needs to continue promoting its role as a shield for domestic production. Moving beyond mere defense, the Authority must proactively take the offensive to combat trade remedy circumvention and harmoniously handle exemption issues.

Third, communications work should be implemented more vigorously to raise awareness among businesses and society regarding the role of trade remedies in protecting national interests.

Fourth, the Authority will continue to promote specialized inspections of legal compliance concerning trade remedies, anti-circumvention, and exemptions to enhance the effectiveness of measures currently in force.

Fifth, building a comprehensive, unified database and accelerating digitalization is a key task. This serves as the foundation for implementing early warning systems, supporting businesses, and improving the efficiency of law enforcement.

Sixth, with a young workforce, the Authority needs to focus on professional training and capacity building, ensuring well-prepared human resources to meet the increasingly high demands of trade remedy work.

In 2026, the Trade Remedy Authority of Vietnam will focus on implementing key tasks under the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, strengthening coordination with industry associations, closely monitoring import and export situations, and deploying practical trade remedy measures.