USTR Sets Dec. 29 Online Hearing on Vietnam's Currency Manipulation

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative set a Dec. 10 deadline for filing requests to testify at a Dec. 29 online hearing on the agency's Trade Act Section 301 investigation into alleged Vietnamese currency manipulation (see 2010070047). Post-hearing rebuttals are due Jan. 7, says a USTR notice for Wednesday's Federal Register. The agency originally planned to forego a public hearing even virtually due to COVID-19 concerns. USTR is seeking testimony into the "nature and level of burden or restriction on U.S. commerce caused by the undervaluation of Vietnam’s currency," among other areas, said the notice. U.S. importers source about a fifth of all smartphone shipments from Vietnam.