11 April 2025

The EU is tightening import regulations on certain products originating from China, such as steel and electronics. Vietnamese businesses exporting similar products should be aware of potential risks.

The EU is tightening import regulations on certain products originating from China, such as steel and electronics. Vietnamese businesses exporting similar items should be aware of potential risks.

In an interview with Industry and Trade Newspaper on the morning of April 8, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Thúy – Director and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently in charge of the Nordic market – said that the EU is currently on high alert for the possibility that Chinese goods, previously exported to the United States, may be redirected to the European market as a result of retaliatory tariffs between the two major economies. At present, the EU is monitoring imports of certain Chinese products such as steel, electronics, solar panels, and wind turbines.

The EU is tightening import controls on a range of products such as steel, electronics, and more.

According to Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Thúy, “EU officials have noted that a side effect of the high tariffs imposed by the United States is an excess in global supply, with goods that were previously exported to the U.S. now potentially being redirected to Europe. A senior EU official remarked, ‘Trade diversion may occur, as some countries unable to export to the U.S. will seek alternative markets. The EU will be ready to protect its own market.’”

In fact, the EU faced a similar situation in the steel sector back in 2017, when the U.S. closed its market to Chinese steel, causing an influx of Chinese products into Europe. At that time, the EU implemented safeguard measures permitted by the WTO, which allowed it to restrict imports of certain products when there was a sudden surge in volume on the market.

In the context of the EU’s tightened surveillance to prevent such import inflows, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Thúy warned that Vietnamese exporters of similar products should pay close attention to the risk of Chinese goods being routed through Vietnam and then re-exported to the EU in order to take advantage of tariff preferences under the EVFTA. This risk is now more imminent than ever.

“If such cases occur, the reputation of ‘Made in Vietnam’ products could be severely damaged,” Ms. Thúy emphasized. “The EU could respond by intensifying inspections, tightening preferential conditions, or even imposing punitive tariffs on Vietnamese goods.”

To minimize risks, Ms. Thúy said experts recommend that Vietnamese businesses strictly control their supply chains, ensure clear and verifiable origin of goods, and avoid any involvement in trade fraud practices. In addition, they should proactively ensure transparency in origin documentation, and be well-prepared to present proof of origin during inspections. Businesses are also advised to closely monitor EU trade policy developments in order to adjust their export strategies in a timely manner.

Most importantly, Vietnamese exporters must enhance their competitiveness, focus on product quality and real added value, in order to secure a sustainable position in the European market.