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Cooperation on electronic data exchange between Viet Nam Customs and U.S Customs and Border Protection – a collaborative inivitative to support the development of a balanced, resilient, and sustainable trade relation between Viet Nam and the United States

On the morning of 25 June 2026 (local time), Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Director General of the Department of Viet Nam Customs, and Mr. Rodney S. Scott, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at the sidelines of the 147th/148th Sessions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council in Brussels, Belgium.

Economic and trade relations between Viet Nam and the United States have continued to develop robustly in recent years, particularly following the escalation of the bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.

The United States is currently Viet Nam’s largest export market, while Viet Nam is the United States’ seventh-largest trading partner worldwide. According to Viet Nam Customs statistics, bilateral goods trade volume reached US$ 172.3 billion in 2025. Of this total, Viet Nam’s exports to the United States amounted to more than US$ 153.1 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.2%, while imports from the United States exceeded US$ 19.2 billion, up 27.7% from the previous year. During the period from 1 January to 18 June 2026, bilateral good trade volume totaled an estimate US$ 89.58 billion, an increase of 23.1% year-on-year, of which exports reached US$ 79.09 billion, up 22.4% year-on-year, while imports amounted to US$ 10.49 billion, an increase of 28.3% over the same period of the previous year.

The growing economic and trade relationship between the two countries has not only provided a solid foundation but also created a pressing need to further strengthen substantive cooperation between Viet Nam Customs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Such cooperation is essential to facilitate the smooth flow of legitimate trade while safeguarding trade security, contributing to the effective resolution of trade-related issues of mutual concern, and promoting balanced, fair, and sustainable bilateral trade.

 In response to these evolving demands, cooperation between Viet Nam Customs and CBP has continued to deepen in both scope and substance. In particular, following the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Government of the United States of America on Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (CMAA) in December 2019, which entered into force in May 2020, the two customs administrations have actively implemented information exchange to verify suspected customs offences, while also expanding operational cooperation and capacity-building activities. These efforts have yielded significant and tangible results.

To further supplement and operationalize customs cooperation under the framework of the CMAA, the two customs administrations have engaged in discussions on implementing an initiative for the electronic exchange of cargo manifest and transportation data through a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of Viet Nam and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Pursuant to the Memorandum, the two Parties intend to exchange electronic cargo manifest data in real time, or as close to real time as practicable, to support customs targeting and risk management for the prevention and detection of customs violations, including trade fraud, counterfeit and prohibited goods, origin fraud, duty evasion, and other customs-related offences.

The signing of this Memorandum represents an innovative step that is fully aligned with the digital transformation driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, marking the shift from the application of conventional information technology toward a data-centric digital governance model. It also reflects a cooperative approach advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), which encourages its Members to enhance the electronic exchange of customs information as an effective means of facilitating legitimate trade while strengthening the security and resilience of global supply chain, particularly in the post-COVID-19 environment.

From an operational perspective, the electronic exchange of customs data will significantly enhance the ability of both customs administrations to verify shipment information, cross-check import and export data, improve targeting capabilities, and detect at an early stage customs fraud as well as attempts to circumvent trade remedy measures. At the same time, this mechanism will strengthen risk management, facilitate faster customs clearance for compliant consignments, and reduce unnecessary border inspection procedures. These improvements will, in turn, enhance the competitiveness of goods traded in the markets of both countries.

The conclusion of this Memorandum also demonstrates Viet Nam’s strong commitment to working closely with the United States in addressing issues of mutual concern, particularly the prevention of origin fraud and illegal transshipment intended to circumvent customs duties and trade remedy measures. Its implementation is expected to improve transparency, strengthen the effectiveness of customs administration, and further enhance Viet Nam’s credibility as a trusted participant in global supply chains.

The implementation of the electronic data exchange initiative between Viet Nam Customs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection marks the beginning of a new phase of bilateral customs cooperation that is broader, deeper, and more substantive. Beyond strengthening customs control and ensuring trade security, this initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution to trade facilitation and to support the development of a more balanced, resilient, and sustainable trade relation between Viet Nam and the United States.

(Heads of two Customs Administrations had a Meeting in the margins of WCO Council Sessions) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   -SB-