“The Global and Vietnamese Textile and Garment Industry in 2026 Amid the Haze of Reciprocal Tariffs” is a thorough scientific and practical research study on U.S. reciprocal tariff policies and their impacts on Vietnam’s textile and garment industry. By applying regression modeling algorithms and analyzing the latest market data, the study provides a comprehensive view of multidimensional impacts and forecasts potential scenarios for the development of Vietnam’s Textile and Garment industry in 2026. Its objective is to support enterprises and managers in formulating effective production and business strategies in a turbulent and highly competitive global environment.
A standout impression
Late in the afternoon of an early winter day, I was shared with the draft manuscript of the book “The Global and Vietnamese Textile and Garment Industry in 2026 Amid the Haze of Reciprocal Tariffs” by the Chairman of Vinatex, Dr. Le Tien Truong, which he and his colleagues had just completed.
At a critical moment as the country enters a period of transformation ahead of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party, research studies of this depth carry particular significance. They address timely and urgent issues facing one of Vietnam’s key economic sectors – the textile, garment, and fashion industry – amid an increasingly unstable global economic landscape. This includes uneven post-pandemic recovery and escalating trade tensions between major economies such as the United States and China, where reciprocal tariffs have become an extremely sensitive issue with direct implications for national interests.
I was truly overwhelmed when Dr. Le Tien Truong told me that the authors had managed to complete the research work within an extremely short period – just 60 days. This was especially striking after I had carefully read the book and seen the vast amount of information the authors had compiled and analyzed, covering U.S. reciprocal tariff policies affecting the global textile and garment industry and their impact on Vietnam, within the broader context of the world economy and international trade trends in 2025–2026. As the chief editor, Dr. Le Tien Truong also shared that all information in the book was continuously updated right up to the time of its publication.
Foundational Values
The authors’ scientific and practical research findings are presented in eight main sections.
Chapter 1 “Amid the Global Haze of Reciprocal Tariffs” opens with an overview of the history, legal basis, and the progression and adjustment of U.S. tariff policies, with particular emphasis on the impact of Executive Order 14257, signed on April 2nd, 2025, under President Donald J. Trump. This policy aims to rebalance import – export markets and protect domestic production by imposing retaliatory tariffs on countries engaging in unfair trade practices. The authors analyze the direct effects of these tariff rates on Vietnam’s Textile and Garment industry and other competing countries, as well as several spillover risks to markets beyond the United States.
Chapter 2 “Global and Vietnamese Macroeconomic Conditions” presents an overview of the global and Vietnamese economic landscape in 2025, including analyses of GDP growth trends, inflation, international trade, and monetary policy. The chapter explains why fluctuations in reciprocal tariff policies are expected to have a significant impact on the textile and garment supply chain, from raw materials to manufacturing and exports.
Chapter 3 “The Global Textile and Garment Market in 2025 and Forecasts for 2026 Based on a Multivariate Regression Model” provides an in-depth analysis of major import markets such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and China. The chapter also examines various reciprocal tariff scenarios and their expected impacts on Vietnam’s textile and garment exports, including effects on industry value added and export market share.
Chapter 4 “The Textile and Garment Raw Materials and Accessories Market” analyzes and evaluates trends in material usage, sources of imported inputs from China, Bangladesh, Japan, and Europe; also examines how reciprocal tariff policies affect input costs in Vietnam’s Textile and Garment industry.
Chapter 5 “Trends in Apparel Supply Chain Shifts” describes changes in global supply chains driven by rising reciprocal tariffs and policy pressures, also reflects shifts in the strategies of major exporting countries and their impacts on Vietnam.
Chapter 6 “Global and Vietnamese Financial and Monetary Environment” assesses the financial position, liquidity, and credit conditions of garment enterprises under the impact of fluctuations in the USD/VND exchange rate, borrowing interest rates, as well as their capacity to hedge against exchange rate risks to maintain competitiveness.
Chapter 7 “Other Influencing Factors” focuses on updates to domestic and international regulations related to sustainable development, technology innovation policies, the EU’s green standards, as well as changes in labor & energy costs and the impacts of Free Trade Agreements.
Finally, Chapter 8 “Conclusions and Strategic Implications for 2026” presents an overall assessment of the textile and garment industry’s business outlook amid reciprocal tariffs showing no signs of easing; also proposes policy recommendations to support enterprises and managers in formulating sustainable strategies.
Practical Implications
The book has significant practical value, as it provides a comprehensive body of information and data that has been thoroughly compiled and in-depth analyzed from credible and up-to-date sources, including leading global economic and financial institutions. The research findings will certainly benefit Vietnam’s Textile and Garment enterprises, while also serving as a scientific basis for economic policymakers to better understand the challenges posed by U.S. reciprocal tariff policies, as well as to identify opportunities and risks in major export markets. Based on this understanding, effective measures can be developed to support enterprises in strengthening competitiveness and preparing for fluctuations in tariff policies, financial collateral requirements, and exchange-rate risks in an increasingly volatile international market.
In particular, with a particular regression model, the forecast scenarios help enterprises formulate their business strategies in 2026 based on expected movements in reciprocal tariff policies. In addition, the chapters on supply chains and raw materials enable enterprises to be more proactive in diversifying supply sources and making flexible shifts to mitigate cost and tariff risks
In terms of methodology, the authors closely integrated quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Regression models were employed to analyze the specific impacts of reciprocal tariffs on textile and garment export markets, while the collection and synthesis of the latest market data enhanced the scientific rigor and accuracy of the analysis. This multidimensional approach not only provides a comprehensive picture of the situation but also enables the development of strategic forecast scenarios for the coming year, closely aligned with real-world conditions, allowing enterprises to formulate policies and development strategies not only for 2026 but also for the medium term.
The authors applied economic theory in combination with business practice, integrating real-world market data while continuously updating the latest policy developments. The process of data collection and consolidation was conducted with regular and accurate updates to faithfully reflect market dynamics, demonstrating both the study’s scientific rigor and its strong practical applicability.
With a writing style that balances rigorous academic standards with clarity and accessibility, clear and logical argumentation, and the effective use of real-world data and vivid illustrative examples, the authors enable readers to easily approach and grasp the complex issues surrounding reciprocal tariffs. The coherence and careful presentation enhance the book’s persuasiveness and reference value in today’s global economic context, making it valuable not only for specialists but also for non-experts with an interest in international economics.
I believe this book is highly relevant for textile and garment enterprises, policymakers, economic researchers, governmental agencies, industrial promotion organizations, and anyone interested in the impacts of global reciprocal tariff policies and other trade barriers on the country’s sustainable socio-economic development.
By Dr. Tran Van, Member of the National Assembly, 12th and 13th terms
