Hanoi, July 7 -- Smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit production and trading, and intellectual property (IP) right infringement remained widespread and increasingly sophisticated in the first half of 2026, affecting business activities, public health and consumer confidence. The assessment was made by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, head of the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods, at a national online conference reviewing the performance in the first six months of the year and setting tasks for the second half on July 7. He noted that the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee have issued a series of directives to strengthen efforts against sm...