According to the Hai Phong City Department of Industry and Trade, the US's consideration of adjusting and increasing the additional import tariff from 10% to 15% could directly impact export businesses in Hai Phong.

Rising costs and increased competition necessitate prompt support solutions to help businesses stabilize production and maintain their market share.

Based on the current situation, the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade proposes a solution to build an information and communication channel for forecasting and managing the trade policies of other countries through various media outlets, including television, Facebook, and Zalo, and to coordinate and share information promptly between departments, agencies, and relevant businesses.

The Department of Industry and Trade developed and submitted to the Hai Phong City People's Committee for promulgation the Plan for International Integration in 2026; which clearly outlines six key solutions and tasks, promoting connectivity and trade through export promotion programs targeting the European Union (EU), the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Middle East, and other potential markets; guiding businesses to comply with rules of origin in the context of shifting trade flows; and proactively monitoring and supporting the handling of trade defense investigations related to goods exported to the United States and other countries.

At the same time, the Department of Industry and Trade is developing a program for the development of supporting industries for the period 2026-2030, focusing on identifying supporting industrial products in line with the industrial development orientation of Hai Phong city (mechanical engineering, automobiles, electronics, textiles, leather and footwear, etc.).

According to data from the Customs Sub-department of Region III, the export turnover of businesses in Hai Phong city to the US market in the first two months of 2026 reached approximately 790 million USD; accounting for 10.4% of the city's total export turnover.

Thus, when the additional import tax increases from 10% to 15%, assuming businesses have to bear the entire increase to maintain orders, the increased cost would be equivalent to approximately $39.5 million (5% of $740 million). This figure shows a significant impact on business profits, especially in low-margin industries such as textiles and footwear.

According to Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, the difficulties and obstacles faced by businesses include market and order issues. For the textile and footwear sectors, which depend on processing orders within the supply chain, the risk of losing orders if the 15% tax is prolonged is noteworthy.

Production and logistics costs remain challenging, and while international shipping costs have eased compared to peak periods, they are still higher than before. Domestic logistics costs (warehousing, domestic transportation, port services) still account for a significant proportion of the total cost.

Next, there are difficulties regarding rules of origin and the risk of trade defense measures. Some industries still depend on imported raw materials and components, and the level of localization is not high. Therefore, the requirements for compliance with rules of origin and traceability are becoming increasingly stringent, increasing compliance costs for businesses.

Furthermore, financial and cash flow difficulties are a major concern for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whose financial resilience is often more limited. Additionally, their limited ability to adapt to different markets means they cannot do so in the short term, especially for businesses that depend 70-90% on the US market.

Source: Tin Tuc News

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