Vietnam Urges United States to Provide Fair Review of Intellectual Property Protection Progress

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday urged the United States to offer an objective and balanced assessment of the country’s achievements in intellectual property (IP) protection, following the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to designate Vietnam as a 'Priority Foreign Country' in its annual report on global IP protection and enforcement.

Responding to questions from the press, Ministry spokesperson Phạm Thu Hằng highlighted Vietnam’s significant progress in recent years, including enhancements to its legal framework, increased public awareness, and strengthened international cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the United States, and other nations.

'Vietnam has also taken firm action against violations of IP rights. This remains both a high priority and a consistent policy of Vietnam to build a healthy and transparent business environment and to transform its growth model with science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers,' Phạm Thu Hằng stated.

The spokesperson further noted that Vietnam has been actively and effectively cooperating with the United States in the area of IP protection. She affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to share information and clarify its policies and regulations, emphasizing the importance of continued close coordination between the two countries to appropriately address differences. According to Phạm Thu Hằng, such cooperation would benefit both nations and contribute to building a stable, balanced, and sustainable framework for economic and trade relations.

The USTR’s designation of Vietnam as a 'Priority Foreign Country' marks the first time in over a decade that a country has been placed in this category in the annual report. The report serves as a key tool for the U.S. in identifying trading partners whose IP protection and enforcement regimes are seen as inadequate.

Following the designation, the USTR will decide within 30 days whether to initiate a Section 301 investigation. However, the office has indicated that it will first request consultations with Vietnam and seek to resolve the issues that led to the country’s identification as a Priority Foreign Country.

In addition to Vietnam’s new designation, the USTR’s 'priority watch list' continues to include countries such as China, India, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela. The broader 'watch list' now features 19 trading partners, with the European Union being a recent addition.

Vietnam’s government maintains that protecting intellectual property is central to its economic strategy, particularly as the country seeks to foster innovation and digital transformation. Officials reiterated that Vietnam remains committed to upholding international standards and working collaboratively with global partners to address IP challenges.