Vietnam Faces Intellectual Property Scrutiny Amid U.S. Trade Concerns
Vietnam, a major hub for sneaker production, is under scrutiny for its intellectual property (IP) practices as the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) adds the country to its Priority Foreign Country list in the Special 301 report for 2026. This marks the first time in 13 years that a country has been added to this list. The report evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners' IP protection and enforcement. The USTR plans to determine within 30 days whether to initiate an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This move has raised concerns among industry leaders, such as Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, who warns that this could increase costs for American consumers and complicate IP enforcement. 
