FTA

Vietnam's FTA Index 2025: Why the Falling Score Is Misleading

MOIT's second FTA Index, published August 18, shows the national score falling -- but a mid-2025 provincial merger means this year's map bears little resemblance to last year's, and the government's own index site says the two scores can't be compared.

Aug 26, 2026

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2 min read

Vietnam Banned Forced Labor on July 22. USTR Set the Rate on July 23.

The new Section 301 forced-labor tariff sorts 60 economies into 10% and 12.5% tiers by whether they ban forced-labor imports. Vietnam drew 12.5%; its own ban takes effect six weeks after USTR set the rate.

Jul 29, 2026

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3 min read

Duty-free at entry: what the EFTA deal gives Vietnamese exporters first

EFTA's tariff cuts land the day the deal takes effect; Vietnam phases its own over up to 11 years -- and an unusual anti-dumping standstill may matter more than the duty cuts.

Jul 15, 2026

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2 min read

FTA

Vietnam's FTA Index 2025: Why the Falling Score Is Misleading

Vietnam Banned Forced Labor on July 22. USTR Set the Rate on July 23.

Duty-free at entry: what the EFTA deal gives Vietnamese exporters first

Mekong Brief