U.S. Imposes 46% Tariff on Vietnamese Plywood Exports

1. Cross-Industry Tariff Overview

🔹 Key Policy Changes (White House Release 04/03/2025):

• Electronics: 35% on Vietnamese circuit boards (HS 8534)
• Textiles: 28% on synthetic fabrics (HS 5512)
• Footwear: 22% on leather shoes (HS 6403)
• Plywood: 46% on hardwood/softwood plywood (HS 4412) [Highest among ASEAN]

Comparative Rates:

(Source: U.S. Trade Representative 2025 Tariff Schedule)

2. Plywood Industry Impact

🔴 Immediate Consequences:

• Order Cancellations: 37% of U.S.-bound plywood contracts frozen (VPA Survey, April 2025)
• Price Shock: Vietnamese FOB prices must drop $120-150/m³ to offset tariffs (ITTO)

🟢 Silver Linings:

• EU Demand Surge: FSC plywood orders up 40% MoM (Eurostat)
• Japan's LVL Shortage: Vietnam's LVL exports now fetch **880/m3∗∗(vs.880/m3∗∗(vs.720 to U.S.)

Case Study: TT Plywood's Pivot

• Secured 5 EU contracts worth $2.4M (FSC-certified 18mm plywood)
• Partnered with Japanese trading houses to bypass U.S. tariffs

3. Strategic Recommendations

🛠️ For Mills:

• Certification Rush: Obtain FSC/EUDR by Q3 2025
• Raw Material Audit: Remove all Cambodian-sourced timber

📊 For Traders:

Market Diversification:

• A[Current U.S. Focus] --> B(EU - 22% premium)
• A --> C(Japan - LVL shortage)
• A --> D(Middle East - Mega projects)

#VietnamTrade #PlywoodCrisis #ExportResilience