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Tesla and Samsung have opposed additional US tariffs on Vietnamese goods as the Trump administration approaches the November 29 deadline for its investigation into the country's alleged intellectual property violations. The two companies warned that new duties could disrupt supply chains and raise costs for American manufacturers.
According to a Reuters report published on November 2, businesses are divided over whether Washington should impose additional duties on Vietnam. While several US industry groups are demanding penalties, companies with significant manufacturing and sourcing operations in the Southeast Asian country have raised concerns about the potential impact.
The Trump administration launched the investigation in May over alleged intellectual property violations in Vietnam. The US designated Vietnam a "priority foreign country," making it the first jurisdiction in 13 years to be added to the most serious category of its intellectual property watchlist.
Washington has accused Vietnam of a persistent failure to address concerns surrounding intellectual property protection and enforcement. A separate investigation into alleged excessive production capacity is also underway. Vietnam has urged the US to conduct both investigations objectively.
The US currently imposes a general tariff of 12.5% on Vietnamese goods. Earlier, Vietnam faced 20% duties after Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement, but the Supreme Court struck those tariffs down.
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Tesla has urged the US Trade Representative to consider American manufacturers' supply-chain requirements. In comments submitted on July 2, the electric vehicle maker said certain advanced components and precision manufacturing equipment cannot be sourced domestically, despite substantial investments in US production.
Samsung's US unit has also opposed additional tariffs, pointing to Vietnam's role in producing a significant share of its smartphones and network equipment for the American market. The South Korean company is Vietnam's largest foreign investor, with investments of approximately $25 billion.
Retail, footwear, apparel and consumer goods industry groups have also opposed additional duties.
Not all businesses are against additional duties. US industry groups representing steel, seafood, plywood, solar panels and wood products have accused Vietnam of unfair trade practices and called for new tariffs.
Software, film and music industry associations have also urged Washington to push Vietnam to take stronger action against piracy and improve market access.
The Business Software Alliance, whose members include Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, said approximately three-quarters of software installed on personal computers in Vietnam was unlicensed, citing a 2017 survey. The Motion Picture Association described Vietnam as a major online piracy hub, saying websites distributing unauthorized films and television content attracted more than 12.5 billion visits worldwide last year.
Meanwhile, 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 trading partner with the largest goods surplus, ahead of China and Mexico, compared with its fourth position at the end of 2025.
The scope of any new intellectual property-related tariffs, whether general or sector-specific, remains unclear as the November 29 deadline approaches.