The Honorable Howard Lutnick

Secretary

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue NW Washington,

Washington D.C. 20230

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

We are Vietnam Worker Defenders, a non-profit organization focused on assisting workers in Vietnam achieve their full potential. We are writing to you to share our concerns regarding the unfair trade practices in which Vietnam has been engaging. Currently, the situation stems from the following reasons:

1. Excessive Government Support: The Vietnamese government provides excessive support for many Vietnamese export goods, leading to allegations of dumping and subsidies.

2. Non-Compliance with Regulations: Vietnamese goods do not comply with food safety, usage, and environmental protection regulations as do goods produced in the United States, resulting in lower production costs.

3. Artificially Low Wages: Wages for workers in Vietnam are artificially set at such a level to achieve low production costs. This is largely due to the fact that the Vietnamese government does not allow independent trade unions to be formed and operate to genuinely protect workers’ rights, especially concerning setting wages to match current living costs and fair market rates.

Therefore, Vietnam Worker Defenders recommends the following actions:

1. Applying higher tariffs on Vietnamese goods that are alleged to be subsidized or dumped;

2. Mandating that the Vietnamese government issue decrees that allow truly independent trade unions to be formed and operate in Vietnam. This action could require the Vietnamese government to amend its Labor Law of 2019 to comply with the International Labor Organization’s Convention 87 which has yet to be ratified.

The above recommendations will help protect American jobs and industries, sustain a reliable supply chain for our economy while also improving the livelihood of Vietnamese workers.

Respectfully yours,

Huy Nguyen

Executive Director Vietnam Worker Defenders

Email: us.vwd@vietnamworkerdefenders.net

Address: 6B Liberty, Suite 150 Aliso Viejо, CA 92656