Vietnam had won a three-year dispute with Indonesia regarding safeguards on certain iron and steel products, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) late last week announced the agreement of Vietnam, Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, on the one hand, and Indonesia, on the other, that Indonesia would have to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) regarding safeguards on certain iron and steel products by March 27, 2019.
This means Indonesia will have seven months from the date of adoption of DSB’s recommendations and rulings.
On August 27, 2018, the DSB adopted the Appellate Body report which found the duties applied by Indonesia on imports of galvalume were not a safeguard measure subject to WTO safeguard disciplines.
The report also found that Indonesia’s specific duty on imports of galvalume was inconsistent with Article I:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
On October 11, 2018, Indonesia informed the DSB that it required a reasonable period of time to comply with the DSB’s recommendations and rulings because it was impracticable for Indonesia to do so immediately.
The dispute was initiated on June 1, 2015 when Vietnam requested consultations with Indonesia regarding a safeguard measure on imports of certain flat-rolled iron and steel products from July 22, 2014.
The safeguard measure consisted a specific duty applied from July 2014 and reduced from 4,998,784 Rp (US$345) per tonne to 3,629,538 Rp per tonne.
With the DSB’s ruling, Indonesia must stop the application of specific duties as a safeguard measure on flat-rolled iron products and non-alloy steel from Vietnam.
According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, more than 60% of Indonesia’s flat-rolled iron products and non-alloy steel came from Vietnam.
Iron and steel are major export products from Vietnam to Indonesia. Customs statistics showed that Vietnam exported 612,700 tonnes to Indonesia in 2017 at an average price of US$731.3 per tonne.
The authority said the decision was important to Vietnamese firms because it would help them cope with trade defense mechanisms applied by importing countries.
Vietnam's exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products maintained strong growth momentum in the first five months of 2026, with total export turnover estimated at US$30.69 billion, up 9.2% year on year.
Analysts noted that Vietnam-Singapore ties are increasingly moving beyond traditional goods trade towards green growth, innovation and high-quality supply chains, laying a stronger foundation for more substantive and sustainable cooperation in the years ahead.
International visitors expressed positive impressions of Vietnamese products displayed at the fair. Nelma Sanjines, senior supervisor at ESP Catering in Sydney, praised the flavour of Vietnamese chilli sauce and soy sauce as well as the attractive packaging of confectionery products.
Experts noted that supply chain optimisation and risk management are no longer isolated tasks for individual companies but a requirement for the entire export ecosystem. With guidance from regulators, support from industry experts and their own efforts, Vietnamese exporters are expected to enhance their competitiveness and turn technical barriers and market volatility into opportunities for sustainable growth in global markets.
In April, Vietnam’s crude steel output was estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, up 4% year-on-year. With this result, Vietnam surpassed Italy to secure a place among the top 10 global producers.
Power companies must carry out regular grid inspections and maintenance to keep operations safe and efficient, minimise localised overloads and reduce the risk of supply disrupting incidents.
He stressed that domestic firms must proactively improve corporate governance, technological capabilities and workforce quality in order to participate more deeply in global supply chains. “Vietnamese enterprises cannot enter the supply chains of multinational corporations unless they meet required standards,” Cuong said.
Vietnam has kept inflation below 4% since 2015, and maintaining macroeconomic stability while effective inflation control in 2026 will be crucial to supporting the country’s goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth.
To ensure safer use of E10 fuel, consumers are advised to regularly maintain fuel systems, replace deteriorated rubber components and refuel at reputable petrol stations to ensure ethanol blending quality meets standards.
The article described Vietnam as strategically positioned along major regional maritime routes, including the East – West corridor linking the Americas, the Middle East, India and Europe, and the North – South corridor connecting China and Southeast Asia, helping make the country a gateway for international trade.
Work starts on 600-million-USD electronic components plant in Ninh Binh
The eco-industrial park model will help Vietnam meet international environmental standards while creating opportunities to improve growth quality and economic competitiveness. Many multinational corporations now view green standards, emissions reduction and energy efficiency as key conditions when selecting investment destinations.
Alongside exhibition activities, trade promotion, and business networking programs, the “Gwangju Global Food Fair 2026” also witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Vietnam–Korea Businessmen & Investment Association (VKBIA) and the Gwangju Tourism Organization of South Korea.
Green transition is increasingly viewed as essential to preserving the city’s status as Vietnam’s economic locomotive.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,392 VND/USD, and the floor rate 23,878 VND/USD.
The southern economic hub climbs 12 places from 2025 to rank 98th globally, marking its highest position ever in StartupBlink’s rankings.
Under a draft resolution currently open for public feedback by the municipal People’s Committee, residents with permanent or temporary residence registration in Hanoi for at least two consecutive years, who own petrol-powered motorbikes registered before the resolution takes effect, will be eligible for support when purchasing electric motorbikes priced at 10 million VND or more.
Vietnam values and places great importance on support from international partners, including the US, which it considers a leading strategic partner.
More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development came into effect, expectations now extend beyond increasing the number of enterprises. The goal is to build a stronger business community with greater resilience, larger ambitions and the capacity to compete in global supply chains.
Vietnam is expected to remain one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, supported by resilient exports, strong investment inflows and an ambitious reform agenda, despite mounting global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest Vietnam Economic Update released on May 15.