Vietnam Industry and Trade News Bulletin for November 27, 2025

A. POSITIVE NEWS

1. Vietnamese Fresh Jackfruit Officially Approved for Export to China During a visit to China from November 26-28, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Duc Thang met with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Both sides signed a Protocol on the export of fresh jackfruit from Vietnam to China, creating new momentum for agricultural trade . Jackfruit is a key export fruit for Vietnam, with a planned stable area of about 50,000 hectares and output of 600,000-700,000 tons by 2030 .

B. GENERAL ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

1. Amending Investment Law: Ending “One Size Fits All” On the morning of November 27, the National Assembly discussed the draft amended Investment Law. Delegates emphasized that investment approval procedures must be based on risk management rather than a uniform process for all projects .

• Simplify Procedures: Proposals to remove redundant regulations for projects already managed by specialized laws (e.g., aviation, ports).
• Decentralization: Decentralize approval authority for projects involving resettlement or non-seaport harbors to provincial levels .
• Cutting Conditions: The Minister of Finance stated that at least 50 conditional business lines would be cut to ensure business freedom.

2. Japanese Firms Shift from China to Vietnam and India A survey by Teikoku Databank shows that the importance of China to Japanese businesses has decreased significantly. Due to political risks and China’s economic slowdown, many Japanese companies are diversifying by expanding into emerging economies like Vietnam and India . Vietnam ranks first as a potential production base alternative.

3. Proposal to Ban Export Production of E-cigarettes National Assembly delegates expressed strong support for banning the production, business, and import of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to protect public health . Delegate Nguyen Anh Tri argued that it would be “shameful” to ban domestic use while allowing production for export, urging a total ban without exceptions .

C. ENERGY

1. IEA 2025 Outlook: Energy Security Risks and Policy Pressures The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2025 highlights a complex global energy system with rising security risks and rapid technological change.

• Demand Shift: Energy demand centers are moving from China to emerging economies like India and Southeast Asia.
• Electricity Era: Global electricity demand is forecast to grow faster than total energy consumption, driven by EVs and industrial electrification.
• Supply Chain Risks: Critical minerals for clean energy face high concentration risks.

2. Carbon Price Shock 2030: Are Vietnamese Businesses Ready? As global climate policies shift from voluntary to mandatory, carbon pricing is becoming a critical financial variable. Major markets like the EU, UK, Canada, and China are tightening emission quotas and raising carbon taxes .

• Impact on Vietnam: Although Vietnam has no domestic carbon tax yet, exporters face direct impacts via mechanisms like the EU’s CBAM and supply chain requirements from global brands (Apple, Samsung) .
• Preparation: Businesses are urged to measure emissions (GHG Protocol), map carbon risks in supply chains, and invest in energy efficiency to avoid a cost shock by 2030 .

D. EXPORT – IMPORT

1. Electronics Exports Hit Record As of November 15, 2025, electronics exports reached nearly $143 billion. Computers and components surged by 48.3% to over $92 billion. This record growth is driven by global supply chain shifts and major FDI investments . However, the industry faces pressure to adopt ESG standards to maintain its position in global supply chains .

2. Cooperatives Struggle with Direct Exports While nearly 65% of agricultural cooperatives have quality certifications like VietGAP, less than 5% participate directly in exports . A new set of Provincial Cooperative Environment Indices (PCGI) is being developed to measure local support for the collective economy .

3. Trade Fairs: A Strategic Pillar for Promotion The Autumn Fair 2025, with 3,000 booths and nearly 5,000 billion VND in B2B transactions, demonstrated the effectiveness of modern trade promotion . The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) plans to organize Spring, Summer, and Autumn fairs in 2026 to position Vietnam as a regional hub for trade fairs .

4. Seafood Exports Overcome Difficulties By the end of Q3 2025, seafood exports reached $8.36 billion, up 16%. China surpassed the US to become Vietnam’s largest seafood importer. The sector is focusing on removing the EC “yellow card” to boost exports to the EU.

E. DOMESTIC MARKET

1. Durian Prices Soar, But Farmers Unhappy Off-season durian prices have jumped by 25,000 VND/kg compared to late October due to scarcity caused by floods in the West. However, farmers are not benefiting significantly as yields are low and production costs have doubled or tripled .

2. Consumer Protection in E-commerce The National Competition Commission highlights the need to learn from international models (EU, US, Japan) to protect consumers in the digital economy. Recommendations include increasing platform responsibility, transparency, and developing online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanisms .

F. TRADE REMEDIES

1. Proposal to Use Import Tax for Trade Defense Fund National Assembly delegates proposed using a portion of import tax revenue (from trade defense measures) to establish a fund supporting industry associations in lawsuits. This aims to help businesses cope with the record number of international trade defense cases .

2. EU Excludes Vietnam from Safeguards on Alloys The EU has notified the WTO of safeguard measures on manganese and silicon alloys. Vietnam is excluded from these measures as its import volume is negligible .

3. 3rd Review of Anti-Dumping Duties on H-Shaped Steel The MoIT has initiated the third review of anti-dumping measures on H-shaped steel imported from China following a request from a Chinese exporter. The current duty ranges from 22.09% to 33.51% .

G. GREEN GROWTH

1. Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2025 Held on November 27 in Hanoi, GEF 2025 focused on “Pioneering Innovation, Creating the Future.” The forum called for stronger EU-Vietnam cooperation in digital transformation, green skills, and sustainable investment .

2. Vietnamese Businesses Commit to Sustainability A Schneider Electric report shows nearly 60% of Vietnamese businesses use AI for sustainability. Vietnam’s “Green Impact Gap” dropped to 41% in 2025, the sharpest decline in East Asia, showing strong commitment to closing the gap between goals and actions