Hanoi has ordered a sharp escalation in intellectual property enforcement across Vietnam, mandating at least a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in cases for May, following a critical warning from the United States over widespread IP violations. The directive signals an intensified national campaign targeting counterfeit goods, piracy, and trademark infringements amid growing trade tensions with Vietnam’s largest export market.
The crackdown, signed on May 5 by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, will run from May 7 to May 30 and involves coordinated action across police, customs, border forces, courts, and multiple ministries. Authorities have been instructed to dismantle piracy networks, block illegal online platforms distributing films, music, games, and software, and tighten border inspections to intercept counterfeit imports and exports. Officials must also submit daily updates on major cases, with weekly summaries compiled for the prime minister, underscoring the urgency of the campaign.
The move follows a significant escalation from Washington, where the Office of the United States Trade Representative placed Vietnam in its most severe intellectual property monitoring category for the first time in 13 years. The designation, labelled “Priority Foreign Country,” cites what it describes as the most serious forms of IP violations and opens the door to a possible Section 301 investigation, which could lead to new tariffs or trade penalties within weeks. The US is Vietnam’s largest export destination, making the warning particularly consequential for its trade-driven economy.
Vietnam has rejected claims of inadequate enforcement, with officials stating that the country is cooperating with US authorities and seeking a balanced assessment of its progress. However, the new directive acknowledges persistent challenges, noting that IP violations continue to affect investment conditions and the rights of businesses and individuals. The campaign aims to demonstrate stronger enforcement capacity at a time when Vietnam is already facing economic pressure from existing US tariffs and broader global trade uncertainties.
Authorities say the crackdown reflects a more aggressive national stance on protecting intellectual property, with faster prosecution of major cases and expanded inspections across high-risk sectors. While officials present the move as part of long-term regulatory strengthening, the timing highlights the immediate diplomatic and economic stakes, as Vietnam attempts to avoid further escalation with Washington while safeguarding its export-dependent growth model.
