Tesla, Samsung Push Back Against Trump’s Fresh Tariff Threat to Vietnam

Tesla, Samsung Push Back Against Trump’s Fresh Tariff Threat to Vietnam

Tesla and Samsung have opposed proposals for additional United States tariffs on Vietnamese imports as Washington prepares to conclude an investigation into intellectual property violations.

Their positions emerged from submissions to the US government, where businesses expressed sharply different views about possible trade penalties against Vietnam.

The Trump administration has until November 29 to complete its investigation, which began in May over alleged violations of intellectual property rights.

Washington previously classified Vietnam as a priority foreign country, placing it in the most serious category of its intellectual property watchlist.

The designation marked the first addition to that category in 13 years.

The United States has accused Vietnam of repeatedly failing to address longstanding concerns surrounding intellectual property protection and enforcement.

A separate American investigation is also examining allegations of excessive industrial production capacity in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam has urged Washington to conduct both investigations objectively.

It remains uncertain whether any additional tariffs resulting from the intellectual property investigation would affect all Vietnamese imports or specific industries.

Currently, Vietnamese goods entering the United States face a general tariff of 12.5 per cent, introduced in July following a separate investigation.

That investigation examined alleged failures to prevent imports of products manufactured using forced labour.

Vietnam previously faced a 20 per cent tariff under Trump’s Liberation Day trade measures, before the Supreme Court struck down those tariffs.

Several economists believe the administration could seek to restore at least some of the duties invalidated by the court.

Tesla, the American electric vehicle manufacturer, urged the US Trade Representative to consider the supply chain requirements of domestic manufacturers.

In its July 2 submission, the company warned that certain advanced components and precision manufacturing equipment remain difficult to source within the United States.

Tesla argued that imposing additional duties could affect manufacturers that depend on international suppliers despite investments in domestic production.

Samsung’s American subsidiary similarly opposed further tariffs, highlighting Vietnam’s importance to its smartphone and telecommunications equipment supply chains.

The South Korean technology giant manufactures a significant portion of the products supplied to the American market in Vietnam.

Samsung has invested approximately $25 billion in the country, making it Vietnam’s largest foreign investor.

Retail organisations and trade associations representing footwear, clothing and consumer goods manufacturers also opposed additional import duties.

Their members include companies producing bicycles, video game consoles and other consumer products through Vietnamese manufacturing facilities.

Meanwhile, American industry groups representing steel, seafood, plywood, solar panels and wood producers supported stronger trade restrictions.

They accused Vietnamese businesses of engaging in unfair practices and called on Washington to impose additional tariffs.

The disagreement comes as Vietnam’s trade surplus with the United States continues to expand.

Vietnamese exports to the American market increased by 42 per cent during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

The growth pushed Vietnam ahead of China and Mexico as the United States’ largest trading partner by goods surplus.

This represents a significant change from the end of 2025, when Vietnam ranked fourth.

Beyond manufacturing and trade concerns, American copyright organisations have also demanded stronger action against intellectual property violations.

Industry groups representing software, film and music companies want Washington to secure concrete commitments from Vietnam to tackle widespread digital piracy.

The Business Software Alliance, whose members include Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, raised concerns about the use of unlicensed computer software.

Citing a 2017 survey, the organisation estimated that approximately 75 per cent of software installed on personal computers in Vietnam was unlicensed.

It criticised what it described as inadequate enforcement, despite previous commitments by Vietnamese authorities to address the problem.

The Motion Picture Association also identified Vietnam as a major centre for online piracy.

According to the association, websites distributing illegally obtained films and television programmes hosted in Vietnam attracted more than 12.5 billion visits worldwide last year.

It called for stronger copyright enforcement and better access to the Vietnamese market for legitimate streaming platforms.

The competing submissions highlight the economic and diplomatic challenges facing Washington as it considers further trade restrictions against Vietnam.