Tesla, Samsung push to block Vietnam tariffs before Nov. 29 deadline

• Companies warn tariffs could disrupt supply chains and drive up US consumer prices
• US industries split on Vietnam tariffs as Section 301 probe decision approaches

On November 2, 2026, Reuters reported Tesla and Samsung formally urged the US Trade Representative to reject new tariffs on goods from Vietnam, with the Section 301 investigation into Vietnamese intellectual property practices ending on November 29. The timing is critical, as a tariff decision could reshape US supply chains and consumer costs.

Leading tech and manufacturing firms emphasized the stakes. Tesla explained that advanced components and manufacturing equipment from Vietnam are essential to its US operations, due to limited availability domestically. Samsung highlighted $25 billion invested in Vietnamese production, underlining its central role in supplying electronics for the American market.

Major US retailers, apparel, and footwear companies also opposed tariff increases, according to Firstpost, citing deep dependence on Vietnamese factories and warning of potential US price hikes.

Conversely, several US industry groups—including those representing steel, solar panels, plywood, seafood, and wood products—backed higher tariffs, claiming unfair competition and ongoing intellectual property violations, Reuters reported.

The Office of the US Trade Representative launched its Section 301 probe after labeling Vietnam a “priority foreign country” for IP concerns in May 2026—the first such designation in more than a decade.

With the Section 301 deadline set for November 29, any tariff changes could significantly alter US-Vietnam trade and technology supply chains, impacting global sourcing patterns.