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) After two consecutive years of decline, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports rebounded in 2025. Export turnover of this product group exceeded USD 344 million, up 15% year-on-year compared with 2024 and 13% higher than 2023, although still below the peak level recorded in 2022.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of 2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry had left a strong mark with export turnover reaching nearly $11.3 billion, up 12.4% year-on-year. This robust performance reflects not only a rebound in global consumption demand but also the agile adaptation of domestic firms in navigating increasingly stringent trade barriers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2025 review and 2026 outlook conference held by the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance on the afternoon of January 7, Vietnam’s seafood sector has set a total production target of over 10 million tons in 2026, representing a 0.6% increase year-on-year. Of this total, capture fisheries are projected at around 3.75 million tons (down 2.1%), while aquaculture output is expected to reach 6.25 million tonnes (up 2.2%) compared with 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Food JSC (Fimex, Ticker: FMC) has announced its 2025 business results, reporting revenue of over $300 million (approximately 7.8 trillion VND), representing a 19.8% increase year-on-year; projected profit is expected to reach approximately 420 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s fisheries sector concluded 2025 with landmark achievements: export turnover reached a record high, despite heightened volatility in global trade and increasingly stringent barriers from major markets, most notably the United States. Amid a mix of opportunities and challenges, the fisheries sector also witnessed important policy shifts. Together, these developments form a multifaceted picture of an industry proactively adapting and restructuring toward a trajectory of sustainable development.
(seafoos.vasep.com.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long, the province’s shrimp farming area reached 69,800 hectares in 2025, including 7,500 hectares under high-tech farming models, 18,820 tons of black tiger shrimp and 293,000 tons of whiteleg shrimp.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Building on a robust growth momentum in 2025, Nghe An province has set a strategic goal to reach a total fisheries output of 270,000 tons by 2026, reinforcing its position as a key hub for aquaculture and exploitation.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
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