Vietnam requests US to make objective assessment of IP rights protection efforts

Hang made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s reaction to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) designating Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country (PFC) in its 2026 Special 301 Report, an annual review of global IP protection and enforcement released on Thursday.

Along with the PFC designation for Vietnam, the USTR placed six countries on the Priority Watch List and 19 others on the Watch List in the report, which reviewed more than 100 trading partners for the adequacy and effectiveness of IP rights protection and enforcement.

Following Vietnam’s designation as a PFC, the USTR said it will decide within 30 days whether to initiate an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, based on the grounds outlined in the report.

The criteria set out in the report will serve as the basis for determining whether Vietnam is a country of concern in terms of IP rights.

If an investigation is initiated, the USTR will request consultations with Vietnam and seek to resolve the issues that led to Vietnam’s designation as a PFC.

Hang stressed that in recent years, Vietnam has made every effort to protect IP rights, including improving its legal and regulatory framework, raising public awareness, and strengthening international cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization, the U.S., and many other countries.

“We propose that the U.S. side make an objective and balanced assessment of Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in IP rights protection,” Hang said.

She affirmed that Vietnam is committed to firmly combating and strictly handling IP violations.

This is both a high priority and a consistent policy of Vietnam aimed at building a healthy and transparent business environment and transforming the growth model with science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the main driving forces.

Vietnam is engaging very actively and effectively with the U.S. in IP rights protection and stands ready to share information and clarify its policies and regulations in this area, the spokeswoman said.

She added that both sides should continue close coordination to properly address differences, for the benefit of both countries and toward building a stable, balanced, and sustainable economic and trade cooperation framework.

Meanwhile, six countries on the Priority Watch List in this year’s report include Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela.

The USTR said it will seek to engage intensively with these countries during the coming year.

At the same time, 19 other trading partners on the Watch List, which merit bilateral attention to address underlying IP issues, comprise Algeria, Argentina, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, the European Union, Guatemala, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turkey.