RCEP markets have opened 87 trade remedy cases against Vietnamese goods. What exporters should check

RCEP markets have launched 87 trade remedy investigations into Vietnamese exports, Báo Đầu tư (Investment Newspaper) reported on 6 July 2026, in a version republished on trungtamwto.vn, the site of the WTO and Integration Center at VCCI. The Báo Đầu tư headline says "nearly 90 cases." On 31 October, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's portal carried an article by Báo Công Thương (author Bảo Thoa) urging companies to set up an early-warning mechanism. That is advice to businesses, not a new mechanism created by a state agency.

ASEAN accounts for 59 cases, or 68%, and Australia for 21. Within ASEAN, Indonesia opened 19, the Philippines 18, Malaysia 12 and Thailand 10. In Thailand alone, the Vietnamese Trade Office there says 7 trade remedy and anti-dumping measures were in force on Vietnam-origin goods as of the end of May 2026.

Exporters shipping to ASEAN and Australia are directly exposed. Goods that meet RCEP origin rules still get preferential tariffs, but anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures can still push costs up or restrict market access.

According to Báo Đầu tư, the goods targeted in ASEAN include steel, fabrics and yarn, cement, ceramic tiles, rice, plastics and paper. In Australia, they are steel, metals (aluminium and copper), chemical products, building materials and processed foods.

Exporters in these groups should treat the destination market as one with investigation risk, even when a shipment carries a C/O. The Báo Công Thương article on the ministry's portal points out that the risk comes not only from individual companies but from whole industries. Fast export growth, concentration in a few markets or products, and trade disputes all raise the odds of an investigation. Even compliant companies can face higher transaction costs, slower deliveries and more cautious buyers.

The overall picture has not eased. In 2025, Vietnam's exports to RCEP markets reached about USD 171 billion, up more than 30% from 2022. Trade remedy cases are no longer confined to the US, Canada, the EU, India and Australia. They have spread to South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and RCEP partners. Báo Đầu tư reports that trade remedy authorities expect investigations into Vietnamese exports to keep rising and grow more complex.

The Báo Công Thương article advises companies to track import trends in key markets so they can raise the alarm early, rather than react only after a measure takes effect.

Complying with RCEP does not automatically exempt a shipment from trade remedies. RCEP preferential origin rules also differ from the origin rules used in trade remedy investigations, so the two sets of files cannot be mixed.

On origin, the Báo Công Thương article advises identifying the correct rule for each product, keeping tight control of material documents and production records, and following C/O procedures properly. RCEP allows materials that meet origin rules in one member country to be used in production in another (origin cumulation). Exporters relying on cumulation should collect documents proving the materials qualify at the point of purchase, not wait until they apply for the C/O.

When filing declarations, declare materials and origin accurately and keep documents as the rules require. Importing materials from outside the bloc is not in itself a violation.

Accounting records determine whether a company can defend itself. An investigation demands large volumes of data on selling prices, production costs, revenue structure, materials and exports. Weak, inconsistent or late figures badly undermine a defense file. Lawyer Lê Hồng Phúc, senior counsel at Rajah & Tann LCT, says the biggest difficulty for small and medium-sized companies is proving compliance along the supply chain, not just product quality. Poorly aligned data drives up the cost of testing, certification and paperwork.

Costs do not stop at the duties themselves. According to the Báo Công Thương article, the risks also include legal costs, compliance costs and uncertainty over market access.

The Báo Công Thương article advises reviewing international sales contracts to set out responsibilities clearly. Contracts should state:

• Who supplies origin documents.
• Who pays testing and certification fees.
• What happens if goods are rejected, denied tariff preferences, or import rules change.
• The governing law, the competent court or arbitration body, and the procedure for negotiation or mediation.

RCEP's dispute settlement mechanism operates between states. Companies cannot use it to sue directly over breach of contract, so the dispute clause in the contract is the exporter's fallback.

Origin files and documents must be correct from the declaration stage. Homexim handles customs declaration and documentation for shippers. To cross-check shipment files, exporters can consult the document checklist they need to prepare.

Three concrete steps:

• Review the HS code and origin rule for each product shipped to ASEAN and Australia, especially those on the targeted lists above.
• Standardize accounting data on selling prices, production costs, revenue structure and materials, so it is traceable and consistent across departments.
• Amend contract clauses on origin documents, testing fees, handling of rejected preferences and where disputes are settled.