Vietnam approves expanded IP enforcement

Vietnam’s National Assembly approved amendments to the customs law to empower authorities to more aggressively intercept counterfeit and IP-infringing goods, addressing concerns raised by a US trade investigation. The revisions expand customs power to include goods in transit, expanding the scope beyond imported and exported shipments and allowing proactive halting of clearance where counterfeiting signs exist. The law also introduces rules for goods traded via e-commerce platforms, requiring procedures and information sharing with customs from platform operators and logistics providers. The changes, which take effect in March 2027, are framed as strengthening IP enforcement and bolstering Vietnam’s credibility in international trade. Overall, the reforms seek to partially address USTR concerns about counterfeiting, border enforcement, and the treatment of transit goods, while adapting to the growth of cross-border online shopping.