U.S.-Vietnam meeting indicates possible future tariffs on timber imports

Nearly two years after the reaching an agreement that avoided Section 301 tariffs on imports from Vietnam, the U.S. indicated concerns about Hanoi’s implementation of that agreement. In October 2020 the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative initiated a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam’s acts, policies, and practices related to timber imports. At the time, USTR said available evidence suggested that a significant portion of the timber Vietnam imports has been harvested or traded in violation of Vietnam’s domestic laws, the laws of exporting countries, or international rules. Vietnam is one of the world ...