Minister Le Manh Hung holds working session with the Trade Remedies Authority and the National Competition Commission

At the meeting, leaders of the Trade Remedies Authority and the National Competition Commission reported on the implementation of tasks during the first five months of the year, outlined plans for the remaining months, and proposed a number of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of their work.

Proactive trade remedies to safeguard domestic production and exports

According to the Trade Remedies Authority, in the first months of 2026, and in line with the direction of the Ministry’s leadership, the agency handled a substantial workload in two areas: protecting domestic production through trade remedy investigations and defending Vietnamese exports against foreign trade remedy actions. These efforts have generated significant economic and social benefits.

In terms of investigations and the application of trade remedy measures against imported goods, notable progress has been achieved. To date, the Ministry has imposed 48 trade remedy measures, of which 35 remain in force. During the first five months of 2026, the Authority handled 15 cases, including reviews, new investigations and dossier submissions. Trade remedy measures have contributed to safeguarding large-scale industries such as MDF fibreboard exports, glass manufacturing and steel production, while ensuring social welfare and balancing the interests of the broader economy.

Regarding responses to trade remedy cases initiated by foreign countries, as of the end of May 2026, Vietnamese exports had been subject to 321 trade remedy investigations launched by 27 markets. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 21 new cases emerged, nearly matching the total number of new cases recorded in 2025, which stood at 23.

Notably, the Trade Remedies Authority worked closely with ministries, agencies, industry associations and businesses to address the United States' Section 301 investigation, a key and highly complex issue with significant implications for Vietnam’s exports. The Authority also engaged effectively with Mexican authorities, successfully persuading the country to lift its suspension on imports from two major Vietnamese steel plants, thereby protecting domestic steel producers.

Positive outcomes in protecting consumer rights

Regarding the responsibilities of the National Competition Commission, positive results were achieved during the first five months of the year in state management of competition, competition proceedings, consumer protection and oversight of multi-level marketing activities.

The Commission investigated and handled numerous cases related to signs of violations of competition law, competition investigations and the settlement of competition cases.

In the field of consumer protection, the NCC made notable breakthroughs in communications and public awareness campaigns. In 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, successfully organised a series of events marking Vietnam Consumers' Rights Day 2026 under the theme “Information Security - Strengthening Trust - Sustainable Consumption”.

At the same time, the Commission stepped up activities related to consumer consultation and support in resolving disputes, monitoring defective product recalls, issuing consumer alerts and closely following public feedback and social concerns.

In the management of multi-level marketing activities, the Commission coordinated with relevant authorities and provided information and professional support in verifying the operations of 11 multi-level marketing models to assist law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations and the handling of crime reports.

In the areas of competition and consumer protection, the Commission conducted investigations, inspections and monitoring activities, and imposed administrative fines totalling nearly VND4.5 billion on several organisations and individuals.

During the meeting, participants focused discussions on early warning mechanisms in trade remedies, coordination among agencies in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, manufacturers and exporters, and proposed solutions to improve efficiency amid deepening international economic integration.

Enhancing coordination and improving state management effectiveness

Minister Le Manh Hung acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements of the Trade Remedies Authority and the National Competition Commission. He commended the sense of responsibility and dedication demonstrated by the leadership and staff of both agencies amid increasing workloads, the specialised nature of their duties and rising requirements. Their efforts have helped maintain a healthy competitive environment for domestic production and strengthened the capacity of various sectors to adapt to international economic integration.

Looking ahead, the Minister urged both agencies to align their work closely with the country's socio-economic development strategy and the major orientations outlined in the documents of the 14th National Party Congress. He called for the timely translation of the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws into concrete programmes and action plans, while reviewing and updating implementation plans in accordance with the Industry and Trade Sector Development Strategy.

For the National Competition Commission, the Minister stressed that the development of legal documents and the improvement of institutions should remain a top priority. In the context of greater decentralisation and delegation of authority, the Commission should strengthen its functions in providing guidance, conducting inspections and supervising the enforcement of laws at the local level.

He instructed the Commission to intensify monitoring efforts and strictly address unfair competition practices, particularly in sectors characterised by high market concentration. The Commission should also work closely with relevant authorities to control unfair competition practices in e-commerce and strengthen cooperation with provincial and municipal People's Committees, especially Departments of Industry and Trade, to improve the enforcement of competition laws nationwide.

Highlighting the importance of communications, the Minister stressed that communications activities should be better prepared, more proactive and grounded in clear scientific and legal foundations. This would help people and businesses gain a proper understanding of policy objectives, benefits and implementation roadmaps, thereby fostering greater social consensus.

For the Trade Remedies Authority, the Minister stressed that the immediate priority is to expedite the drafting of the Law on Trade Remedies and its implementing regulations, while also refining governance models to meet new development requirements.

The Authority should proactively assess the effectiveness of trade remedy measures currently applied by Vietnam in order to provide a basis for future policy adjustments and improvements. It should also strengthen coordination with relevant units in monitoring import developments, the operations of foreign-invested enterprises and unusual trends in international trade.

To enable both agencies to fulfil their mandates effectively, the Minister instructed units under the Ministry to enhance cooperation in building a shared database system to support management and administration on a digital platform. Units were also urged to proactively connect and share information, coordinate support in expertise, human resources and operational conditions, thereby contributing to improving the effectiveness of state management in the industry and trade sector.