TGA to Biden Administration — Don’t Impose Punitive Tariffs on U.S. Travel Goods Imports from Vietnam
On July 14, TGA joined dozens of other industry organizations in opposing a possible move by the Biden administration to impose punitive tariffs on Vietnam under the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Section 301 investigation accusing Vietnam of currency manipulation. Such a decision would contradict the January 15 USTR announcement suspending the investigation or the Treasury Department’s April 16 report that found no currency manipulation by Vietnam. TGA strongly opposed punitive tariffs on Vietnam at a December 29, 2020 USTR public hearing. Vietnam is the #2 supplier of travel goods to the U.S. market. In the first five months of 2021, U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam increased 15.8%, with Vietnam supplying 21.2% of all U.S. travel goods imports during the period.