Vietnam steps up fight on imported counterfeits amid US tariff talks
HANOI : Vietnam is stepping up its fight against counterfeits and digital piracy after the US accused the country of being a major hub for these illegal activities and threatened crippling tariffs, documents reviewed by Reuters show.
Among products that are subject to increased inspections at borders to ascertain their authenticity are luxury goods from Prada and Gucci owner Kering, electronic devices made by Google and Samsung, and toys from Mattel and Lego, according to a document dated April 1 from the customs department of the finance ministry.
Consumer goods such as shampoos and razors sold by Procter & Gamble and Johnson and Johnson products are also included in the list, the document showed.
The crackdown focuses on imported counterfeits, not those that could be made in Vietnam, which are also of concern to the administration of US President Donald Trump.
A clampdown on the use of counterfeit software is also underway, according to a warning from inspectors at the ministry of culture sent on April 14 to a local company, whose name was redacted from the document seen by Reuters.
The letter, it says, followed a complaint from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the industry's global trade association, whose members include Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe.
A person familiar with the matter said similar letters have been sent to dozens of companies since the start of April.
Vietnam's finance and culture ministries and the customs department did not reply to requests for comment, nor did any of the mentioned companies.
A spokesperson for BSA said it has for years urged Vietnam to monitor and take action against the unauthorised use of software.
Vietnam's recent moves are part of an array of measures taken or pledged by the Southeast Asian export-reliant industrial hub to persuade the Trump administration to reconsider punitive tariffs. Vietnam faces duties of 46% on exports to the US, its largest market, if confirmed in July after a global pause.
Vietnam and the US began informal talks to avoid tariffs well before Trump announced global 'reciprocal' duties on April 2.
Enhanced protection of intellectual property, including the fight against counterfeits and digital piracy, is among the issues being discussed with the US in ongoing tariff talks.
Also under discussion are the reduction of Vietnam's big trade surplus, the fight against trade fraud such as illegal transshipment, and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers for US businesses, according to a person briefed on the matter.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last month instructed officials to strengthen the fight against trade fraud, 'especially regarding the origin of goods, counterfeit goods.'
The measures are meant to please Washington but some may irk China, which is the main source of Vietnam's imports.
'Notorious markets'
Despite enhanced controls on imported counterfeits, fake luxury goods targeted by the authorities were on display last week at Saigon Square Shopping Mall in Vietnam's business hub Ho Chi Minh City.
The mall is on the list of 'notorious markets for counterfeiting' published in January by the US trade representative.
'They are not authentic and are made in China,' said an attendant in one of the stalls in the market, referring to Prada wallets and bags she's selling.
She noted counterfeit Prada belts, also available at her stall, were made in Vietnam. The person declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Calls to Saigon Square went unanswered. Its website says the mall offers 'imitations of famous brands at low prices'.
The USTR removed a Vietnamese marketplace at the border with China from its latest watchlist published in January after a crackdown by local authorities. It praised Vietnam's efforts to combat illegal practices, but also expressed concerns over continuing online sales of counterfeit products and Vietnam's role in producing fakes.
The Vietnamese platform of Singapore-based e-commerce giant Shopee remained a major hub for the sale of counterfeits, the USTR said.
'As more brands have shifted production from China to Vietnam, stakeholders report that Vietnam has become a key manufacturer of counterfeit products,' the USTR said in a separate report published in April.
The USTR and Shopee did not reply to requests for comment.
To improve copyright protection Vietnam is planning to set up specialised courts 'to fulfil Vietnam's commitment… to strictly enforce intellectual property rights' and attract foreign investment, according to a draft law reviewed by Reuters scheduled to be approved by parliament in June.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Merdeka-themed cakes a sweet way to promote patriotism
Cakes featuring the national flag and other symbols are a sweet and creative way to share the spirit of Merdeka Day. (Bernama pic) MELAKA : As Merdeka Day approaches, Malaysians – especially those with a flair for the culinary arts – are showing their patriotism in sweet and creative ways. Patriotic cakes have emerged not merely as desserts but as edible expressions of national pride: beneath layers of fondant and cream lie hope and love for the country. For baker and entrepreneur Hilaliyah Mohamed Hanif, 50, creating patriotic cakes is about more than just fulfilling customer requests. 'The patriotic spirit naturally seeps in,' she told Bernama. 'Over the past 16 years, I have made more than 10 patriotic-themed cakes for Merdeka Day, including a savoury one made of pulut kuning (turmeric-infused glutinous rice).' Her designs are often inspired by cultural elements such as songket patterns, wau, hibiscus, traditional 'tanjak' headgear, and iconic landmarks in Malaysia. 'These symbols may be familiar, but on cakes, they evoke a deep sense of pride – both in the maker and the person enjoying it,' she said. Among her most memorable works was a cake shaped like a book, created for Teacher's Day in 2015 and inspired by the poem 'Guru Oh Guru' by national laureate Usman Awang. 'Although it wasn't for Merdeka, it carried strong patriotic value by honouring educators. It shows national pride can be expressed in many forms,' Hilaliyah added. Hotel pastry chef Muzaffar Shah Yusoff showing off Jalur Gemilang-themed cupcakes. (Bernama pics) The trend is also gaining traction in the hospitality sector, with one hotel here offering Jalur Gemilang-themed cupcakes to boost the Merdeka spirit among guests. According to head pastry chef Muzaffar Shah Yusoff, 51, cake-making has become a creative medium that connects people with national identity and values. 'Our cupcakes are visually appealing and carry a message that patriotism can be expressed in light-hearted and creative ways,' he shared. Muzaffar, who has created large-scale patriotic cakes including a 3m-by-1.5m version featuring national elements, said such projects require meticulous preparation. 'It is challenging, but the reward comes when guests are moved. It motivates us to keep creating cakes that embody the patriotic spirit and tell stories of our history, culture and the Malaysian spirit,' he concluded.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
US demand for RVs driving deforestation in Indonesia's Borneo, say NGOs
JAKARTA, Aug 21 — Tropical wood demand from some of America's top RV brands is fuelling deforestation on the Indonesian island of Borneo, home to Asia's last great rainforest, according to a new investigation by environmental NGOs. The recreational vehicle industry is now the biggest consumer of tropical wood in the United States, UK-based NGO Earthsight and Indonesian NGO Auriga Nusantara said in a report published late Tuesday. They said evidence showed sheets of tropical 'lauan' plywood found in Indonesia were likely being used in the floors, walls and ceilings of RVs produced by major brands like Jayco, Winnebago and Forest River. 'Nature-loving RV owners will be horrified to learn that their hobby risks destroying rainforests,' said Earthsight director Sam Lawson in a press release. 'America's RV giants need to get out of the 1980s and implement the kinds of minimum sustainability standards other US corporates have had in place for decades.' Indonesia has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation linked to mining, farming and logging, and is accused of allowing firms to operate in Borneo with little oversight. Borneo island has one of the world's largest tracts of rainforest and hosts orangutans, long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet. Large tracts of orangutan habitat in Borneo were found to be 'cleared to make way for a plantation of fast-growing timber', the NGOs said. An Indonesian plywood company, PT Kayu Lapis Asli Murni, sourced timber mostly from rainforest in areas the NGOs visited, half of which was then exported to US firms MJB Wood and Tumac Lumber in 2024, they said. MJB Wood is the main lauan plywood supplier to Jayco, while Tumac Lumber supplies companies such as RV parts maker Patrick Industries, 'whose customers include Thor Industries, Forest River and Winnebago', the report said. The NGOs said it meant it was 'almost certain' Indonesian tropical wood was being used in the RV supply chain in the United States. None of the companies mentioned replied to the report's authors when asked for comment, it said. Neither the companies nor the Indonesian environment ministry immediately responded to an AFP request for comment. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Indonesia's central bank announces surprise rate cut
Bank Indonesia had projected at the start of the year that economic growth would be slower in 2025. (Reuters pic) JAKARTA : Indonesia's central bank unexpectedly announced a cut in its key interest rate today in a bid to boost economic growth just days after President Prabowo Subianto touted an expectation-defying economy. Bank Indonesia lowered the benchmark seven-day reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 5%, citing a need to bolster stability and growth. 'This decision is consistent with the continued low inflation forecast for 2025 and 2026… the maintained stability of the rupiah, and the need to promote economic growth in line with the economy's capacity,' said Bank Indonesia governor Perry Warjiyo. 'The low inflation will give room for more interest rate cuts,' he said. It was the fifth cut since September, despite economist predictions the central bank would hold this time around, and the lowest rate since late 2022. It comes after Indonesia recorded positive second quarter (Q2) economic results of more than 5% growth after Prabowo's government set an ambitious goal of 8% when he took office last year. He lauded the figure in his first state of the nation speech last week. Bank Indonesia had projected at the start of the year that economic growth would be slower in 2025 compared to last year. London-based business research centre, Capital Economics, called the move a surprise but said more rate cuts could be expected. 'With inflation subdued and GDP growth likely to slow, we think there's scope for more easing over the rest of this year,' wrote Capital Economics' Jason Tuvey in a note. 'We now expect rates to be lowered to 4.50% by year-end,' Tuvey added.
