Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is preparing a new decree to replace Decree No. 69/2018 on foreign trade management, introducing stricter controls on temporary importation for re-export activities.
The new decree, drafted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, was reported by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, through its Office of Commercial Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City.
The draft regulation proposes a maximum storage period of 60 days for temporarily imported goods, extendable twice for 30 days each. The existing decree does not specify a storage limit. The new measure is aimed at increasing transparency in Vietnam’s trade system and curbing illicit trade practices.
Vietnam has long grappled with misuse of temporary import schemes for smuggling, particularly along routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia. Border provinces, including Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, and Kien Giang, have been hotspots for such activities.
The new draft also requires goods to pass only through designated international and main border checkpoints to mitigate illegal trade, enhance customs efficiency, and safeguard state revenues and economic security.
Trade experts believe the policy will create a fairer trading environment despite tighter timelines for businesses that use Vietnam as a storage hub.
The move is expected to discourage counterfeit competition and prevent transshipment disputes with major partners such as the United States, which recently imposed tariffs of up to 40% on reclassified or transshipped products.
The proposed law reflects Vietnam’s long-term goal of building a transparent and globally aligned trade system. By strengthening compliance and aligning with international norms, the country aims to attract greater investor confidence, bolster its logistics infrastructure, and reinforce its competitiveness in regional and global supply chains.
The Office of Commercial Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City noted that the decree’s introduction marks a key development in Vietnam’s trade governance. It seeks to minimize smuggling and customs evasion while improving transparency and accountability in trade facilitation.
For Thailand, the policy presents a strategic opportunity. The DITP’s Ho Chi Minh office observed that stricter import-export control could enhance the credibility of legitimate Thai exporters in Vietnam and neighbouring markets by reducing counterfeit or illegally imported goods.
As Vietnam evolves into a regional logistics hub, Thai companies can leverage its infrastructure to access markets in Cambodia, Laos, China, and beyond.
Firms must adapt to the new 60-day storage limit and ensure accurate Certificates of Origin to avoid transshipment-related penalties that can reach 40% in key markets like the U.S. and EU.
The DITP recommends that Thai exporters strengthen logistics systems, quality control, and compliance frameworks to align with Vietnam’s trade reforms.
These efforts would enhance supply chain resilience and reinforce Thailand’s position as a trusted partner in sustainable and transparent regional trade.
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