Vietnam Pressures US to End Trade Probes as Trump-Era Tariffs Near Expiry

Hanoi is making a strong push for Washington to wrap up its lingering trade investigations, with Vietnam's foreign ministry urging the US to conclude the Section 301 probes ahead of a looming tariff deadline. The appeal came on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Manila, spotlighting the urgency of the stalled trade negotiations between the two nations. A temporary 10% tariff on Vietnamese goods, initially imposed by former President Donald Trump, is set to expire on Friday, adding pressure to an already tense situation. The United States currently has three separate Section 301 investigation targeting Vietnam: one on alleged excess capacity in manufacturing, another on intellectual property violations, and a third concerning goods potentially made with forced labor. These probes fuel a substantial US trade deficit with Vietnam, which hit $75.3 billion in the first half of 2026, a 21% jump from last year, underscoring Washington's drive for a 'rebalance' in trade. Despite Hanoi's efforts, including importing more US agricultural goods and improving intellectual property laws, a comprehensive bilateral trade framework remains elusive after more than a year of talks. With the Trump-era tariffs expiring, the focus now shifts to whether the US Trade Representative will impose new, potentially higher tariffs, or if a breakthrough in negotiations is possible. Vietnam has clearly stated its desire for a resolution that acknowledges its cooperation, while the US aims to address what it sees as unfair trade practices. The ongoing high-level discussions at the ASEAN summit suggest a diplomatic push is underway, but the outcome of the Section 301 investigation will dictate the future trajectory of this critical trade relationship.