Vietnam to Ban Import of Used & Refurbished Expansion Joints

On May 21, 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) confirmed that used and refurbished expansion joints, waterstops, and elastic sealing components—classified under HS code 7308.90.90—will be added to the mandatory import prohibition list effective in Q3 2026. This measure targets structural safety risks and directly affects cross-border trade channels, particularly those involving second-hand equipment re-exports from South China.

Event Overview

On May 21, 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) announced the extension of the public consultation period for its draft regulation Prohibition of Importing Used and Refurbished Digital Technology Products to May 31, 2026. Concurrently, MST confirmed that all used or refurbished bridge expansion joints, waterstops, and elastic sealing components falling under HS code 7308.90.90 will be formally included in the mandatory import ban scheduled to take effect in Q3 2026.

Which Subsectors Are Affected

Direct Trading Enterprises
Companies engaged in exporting used or refurbished expansion joints and related sealing components from China (especially South China) to Vietnam face immediate regulatory discontinuity. The ban eliminates a defined market segment for these goods, requiring rapid reassessment of product classification, destination markets, and compliance documentation.

Supply Chain & Distribution Intermediaries
Firms acting as logistics coordinators, customs brokers, or regional distributors for such components must now verify HS code alignment and origin documentation prior to shipment. Misclassification risk increases, especially where refurbishment status is ambiguously declared or undocumented.

Manufacturers Sourcing Secondary-Material Components
Domestic Vietnamese fabricators or maintenance contractors previously relying on imported used/refurbished units for cost-sensitive infrastructure repair projects may face supply shortfalls or cost inflation. No exemption or transition period has been publicly announced.

What Relevant Enterprises or Practitioners Should Monitor and Do Now

Track official updates on the final version of the regulation

The current notice stems from a public consultation phase extended to May 31, 2026. Final wording—including scope definitions (e.g., how ‘refurbished’ is legally determined), enforcement timelines, and potential exclusions—remains pending. Stakeholders should monitor MST’s official portal and Vietnam’s National Agency for Technical Regulation for the finalized text.

Verify HS code application and product condition declarations

HS code 7308.90.90 covers specific structural metal components. Enterprises must ensure internal classification aligns precisely with MST’s interpretation—and confirm whether minor repairs, cleaning, or reconditioning trigger the ‘refurbished’ designation under the new rule. Documentation substantiating original condition and usage history may become mandatory.

Distinguish between policy signal and operational impact

This announcement functions primarily as a regulatory signal: it confirms intent and scope but does not yet reflect active enforcement. Customs authorities in Vietnam have not issued implementation guidelines or inspection protocols. Businesses should avoid premature operational shifts but begin internal readiness assessments.

Review and adjust procurement and inventory planning for Q3 2026 onward

Importers and project-based buyers with delivery schedules extending into Q3 2026 should assess existing orders, open contracts, and warehousing arrangements. Where feasible, accelerate shipments before the effective date—or identify alternative compliant supply sources, including newly manufactured units meeting Vietnamese technical standards.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this development signals Vietnam’s tightening of technical import controls beyond digital products—extending to civil engineering components with direct safety implications. Analysis shows the move is less about broad trade restriction and more about aligning infrastructure component quality assurance with national construction standards. From an industry perspective, it reflects a growing trend among ASEAN economies to treat certain used industrial parts not as commodities, but as regulated technical goods requiring traceability and performance validation. It is currently best understood as a formalized policy signal—not yet a fully implemented barrier—but one with high likelihood of execution as drafted.

Conclusion
This measure marks a targeted recalibration of Vietnam’s import regime for critical infrastructure components. Its significance lies not in scale, but in precedent: it establishes a regulatory pathway for restricting used/refurbished mechanical and sealing elements based on functional safety criteria. Stakeholders should treat it as an early indicator of evolving technical market access requirements—not as an isolated trade action, but as part of a broader shift toward lifecycle-aware import governance.

Information Sources
Main source: Official notice issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), dated May 21, 2026, regarding the extension of public consultation and confirmation of HS 7308.90.90 inclusion in the Q3 2026 import ban list.
Note: The final regulatory text, enforcement mechanisms, and any exemptions remain pending publication and are subject to ongoing observation.