A key highlight of the Joint Statement was the identification of products listed in Annex 3 of Executive Order No. 14346 (dated September 5, 2025), which aims to “adjust potential tariffs for like-minded partners.” These products may qualify for a reciprocal tariff rate of 0%.
Among the items possibly subject to tariff adjustments are fresh/chilled albacore tuna (HS03023100), frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS03048700), and processed tuna and skipjack, not in airtight containers, not in oil, in loose form or direct containers exceeding 6.8 kg (HS16041440).
If these tuna products are indeed granted tariff exemption, it would provide a major boost to the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna in the US—one of the world’s largest tuna-consuming markets. In recent years, the U.S. has consistently been Vietnam’s top tuna import market, though export prices have been constrained by high logistics costs and import duties. Reducing tariffs to 0% could make Vietnamese products more competitive against suppliers from Ecuador, Thailand, and the Philippines, especially in the high-quality frozen loin/fillet segment and products for the US food service and retail chains.
However, this opportunity will not come easily. The detailed list of tariff-eligible items has not yet been officially announced by the US government. Additional conditions—such as rules of origin, traceability, and sustainability standards—may pose significant challenges for many Vietnamese exporters. In recent years, the Vietnamese tuna industry has faced increasingly strict US and international requirements related to IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, marine mammal protection (MMPA), supply chain transparency, and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Without meeting these criteria, Vietnamese exporters may find it difficult to take advantage of tariff preferences, even if their products are listed as eligible.
Moreover, trade relations between the two countries remain sensitive, as the US has applied a 20% reciprocal tariff on various Vietnamese products this year. The 0% tariff policy is likely to be selective, prioritizing items that demonstrate “fair reciprocity” and full traceability of origin.
In this context, many Vietnamese tuna exporters are shifting strongly toward value-added products such as loins, fillets, and large-scale processed tuna. This strategy not only helps improve profit margins but also aligns with the US market’s growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products.
It is forecast that within the next 6–18 months, if the 0% tariff policy is implemented for the mentioned HS codes, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the US could regain growth momentum after a slowdown in 2024–2025. At the same time, investments in traceability systems, standardized processing procedures, and national branding for Vietnamese tuna will determine how effectively Vietnam can capitalize on this tariff opening.
The opportunity is great—but it will not automatically translate into gains. Without standardized supply chains, transparent sourcing, and strict IUU compliance, the 0% tariff will remain merely an opportunity on paper.
Vietnam’s tuna industry stands at a new crossroads—where tariff advantages alone are no longer enough. Instead, adaptability, transparency, and sustainable value will define its competitiveness in the US market in the years ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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