Tesla and Samsung have opposed fresh US tariffs on Vietnamese goods, while several American industry groups have called for penalties over alleged unfair trade practices. Submissions to the US government reveal divided business views as the Trump administration approaches the November 29 deadline for concluding its trade investigation into Vietnam.

The US launched the probe in May over alleged intellectual property (IP) violations by Vietnam. Washington designated the country a "priority foreign country", making it the first jurisdiction in 13 years to enter the most serious category on its watchlist.

The US has accused Vietnam of "a persistent failure to resolve long-standing concerns about IP protection and enforcement." Washington is also conducting a separate investigation into alleged excess production capacity. Vietnam has urged the US to carry out both investigations objectively.

It remains unclear whether any new tariffs over IP violations would apply to all Vietnamese goods or specific sectors. The US currently imposes a general 12.5% tariff on Vietnamese imports. Washington introduced the duty in July following an investigation into alleged failures to prevent goods made using forced labour from entering the US.

Vietnam previously faced 20% tariffs under Trump's "Liberation Day" measures. However, the Supreme Court struck them down. Many economists believe the Trump administration aims to restore tariffs at least at the same level.

Tesla urged the US Trade Representative to "take into account the supply chain needs of American manufacturers". The electric carmaker said some advanced components and precision manufacturing equipment remain unavailable domestically despite major investments in US production.

Samsung's US unit raised similar concerns. Vietnam manufactures a significant share of the smartphones and network equipment that Samsung supplies to the American market. The South Korean company is Vietnam's largest foreign investor, with investments of around $25 billion.

Retail groups and trade associations representing footwear, apparel and consumer goods manufacturers, including bicycle and video game console makers, also opposed additional tariffs.

Vietnam's exports to the US increased 42% in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. This made Vietnam the US's largest goods trading partner by surplus, ahead of China and Mexico. At the end of 2025, Vietnam ranked fourth.

Meanwhile, American industry groups representing steel, seafood, plywood, solar panels and wood products accused Vietnam of unfair trade practices and demanded new tariffs.

Copyright holders, including software, film and music industry associations, urged Washington to secure firm commitments from Vietnam to tackle widespread piracy.

The Business Software Alliance, whose members include Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, said around three-quarters of software installed on personal computers in Vietnam was unlicensed, citing a 2017 survey. It criticised what it called "inadequate enforcement" despite Vietnam's repeated commitments to address the issue.

The Motion Picture Association described Vietnam as a major centre for online piracy. It said websites hosting illegally distributed films and television content attracted more than 12.5 billion visits worldwide last year. The association called for stronger enforcement and better market access for legitimate streaming services.