Trade with other members may be possible, conference hears, and there are other trade options available if TPP does not go ahead.
“It is too early to talk about the impact on Vietnam if the TPP collapses but it can still find true value from the agreement,” Professor Pham Tat Thang from the Vietnam Institute for Trade (VIT) told the “Vietnam’s Trade Development in the 2016-2025 period” conference.
The conference was held by VIT, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), and the European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project in Hanoi.
The TPP, according to Professor Thang, is not just an international trade agreement that focuses on exchanging, buying and selling goods. “It is also considered a platform for the implementation of comprehensive social development goals,” he said.
US President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 21 that the US will withdraw from the TPP on the first day of his presidency and instead pursue free trade agreements (FTAs) on a bilateral basis.
If the TPP continues without the US, according to Professor Tran Xuan Quang from VIT, Vietnam will still benefit from trade with other partners. The TPP still has value for Vietnam because it will contribute towards positive changes in its business and investment climate in the future.
It’s agreed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is an important agreement that could replace the TPP. “Once approved, the RCEP is expected to boost Vietnam’s exports and imports,” Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Head of the Export and Import Agency at MoIT, told the gathering.
“The RCEP is in its 14th negotiation session and will also contribute to promoting investment flows from developed countries to developing countries and to the full integration of economic activity in the region,” he said.
Trade continued to see steady growth this year, with export turnover reaching US$178 billion and import turnover US$176 billion. “Exchange rate fluctuations in the Chinese yuan have not greatly affected Vietnam’s trade position,” said Mr. Hai. “Growth is approximately 8%.”
Vietnam’s trade in 2017 will see new fluctuations from trade agreements already signed. The RCEP will be Plan B but the TPP remains Vietnam’s main focus, said Professor Quang.
Mr. Pham Hong Hai, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said previously that too much focus is being given to the possibility that the TPP will not proceed and many have forgotten that negotiations over other FTAs are ongoing.
A bigger deal is the FTA of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), he said, an initiative nurtured for 20 years by APEC that links 21 economies around the region, including China and the US.
(Source: VOV)
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn