Vietnam's CPTPP C/O use falls to 7.69% in 2025

Only 7.69% of Vietnam's export value to CPTPP markets used a CPTPP certificate of origin in 2025. That is down from 8.84% a year earlier, even as two-way trade with the bloc grew 11.9% to $124.5 billion. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, CPTPP C/O use fell from 8.84% to 7.69% in 2025.

Exports to CPTPP members reached $70.6 billion in 2025, up 11.5%, against imports of $53.8 billion, up 12.5%. The surplus came in at $16.8 billion, above the $15.4 billion recorded in 2024. Canada, Mexico and Peru alone accounted for $12.7 billion of it, a 22.3% increase.

The run has carried into 2026. Over the first five months, exports to Canada rose 18.13%, Mexico 28.67% and Peru 15.75%. Asia still holds the volume: Japan took $12 billion of Vietnamese goods, followed by Mexico at $3.549 billion, Canada at $3.342 billion, Australia at $3.184 billion, Singapore at $2.723 billion and New Zealand at $338 million.

Export value grew while CPTPP C/O use dropped by 1.15 percentage points in a year. The C/O figures do not, however, establish that all remaining exports paid standard import duty. For pricing purposes, exporters should check the actual tariff treatment and preference requirements for each product before building any expected saving into their offer to the buyer.

Both origin rules and supporting records present obstacles. The Ministry of Industry and Trade identifies failure to meet origin criteria alongside inadequate documentation systems. A practical review should therefore cover material sourcing, production and the records needed to substantiate origin, rather than treating the certificate application as the only task to complete.

Garments illustrate the issue. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, former director of the WTO and Integration Centre at VCCI, links lower preference use to CPTPP's demanding yarn-forward rule. Her longer-term recommendation is to adapt material supply chains while developing domestic supporting industries, textile and dyeing facilities, and raw-material production. For exporters, the practical starting point is to review the applicable product criteria before choosing fabric suppliers, rather than relying solely on where sewing takes place. When comparing FTAs, it also helps to distinguish origin conditions from the destination market's other requirements (see green barriers on EU-bound cargo).

In footwear, Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, vice chair and secretary general of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, says the difficulty is proving where materials and components originate. Established exporters cope reasonably well; smaller firms and newcomers to export markets are a long way behind.

Confidence is the other barrier. Nguyen Minh Khoi of the Tony Blair Institute in Vietnam notes that many small and medium firms hold back from self-certification because they do not fully understand the process or the legal exposure attached to it. The cost is not only meeting the standard, it is being able to demonstrate that you met it.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, CPTPP C/O use fell from 8.84% to 7.69% in 2025.

Bao Cong Thuong reports computers, electronics and components at $9.4 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 45.9%, the highest growth among the major groups listed. It provides neither sector-specific C/O use nor tariff rates from which to calculate unclaimed savings. A product-level review is more useful than estimating missed preferences from export growth alone.

Textiles and garments reached $8 billion, up 6.52%. Given the yarn-forward rule highlighted by the expert, material sourcing merits early attention when assessing preference eligibility. The practical approach is to check fabric origin, production and supporting records against the criteria for the specific product, rather than decide eligibility solely from where fabric was bought or garments were sewn.

Footwear reached $4.5 billion, up 11.8%. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan identifies proof of material origin as a challenge, particularly for smaller firms and export newcomers. From a documentation perspective, reviewing supplier data and material records can help a business identify gaps before assessing whether it can support a preferential origin claim for the shipment.

Vehicles and parts came in at $5.6 billion, up 9.8%, while seafood reached $3 billion, up 7.2%. These figures describe export value, not which sector qualifies most easily or how often each uses a CPTPP C/O. A prudent shipment review would check the relevant product conditions and supporting evidence rather than assume that domestic production alone establishes eligibility for preferential treatment.

Mexico deserves separate attention. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan reports Mexican buyers shifting orders from China to Vietnam, partly because of the agreement's tariff advantages. She stresses that businesses must meet the accompanying conditions to benefit. Export growth of 28.67% in the first five months of 2026 is a notable market signal; in practical terms, origin eligibility and documentation should be reviewed alongside incoming orders.

• Match the CPTPP origin criterion to the exact HS code of the product; the rule is set per tariff line, not per company.
• Build a bill of materials by origin and retain purchase records so you have evidence to cross-check and explain the origin of your inputs when needed.
• Compare the applicable tariff with the CPTPP rate for your HS code, then weigh the difference against documentation costs before choosing an approach.
• Where the rule is strict, as in garments, price the option of moving input sourcing inside the bloc, because documentation cannot substitute for material origin.
• Understand the legal exposure before using self-certification, since the declared information becomes your responsibility.

Homexim prepares export documentation and customs clearance for cargo moving to Japan, Canada, Mexico and Australia, including the file behind a CPTPP certificate of origin. To find out whether a product meets the origin criterion, send the HS code and a bill of materials by origin and we will check it before you fix the price.