MARKET ACCESS BARRIERS IN VIETNAM
Vietnam restricts foreign companies from setting up subsidiaries to produce or distribute “cultural products.” The Vietnamese have indicated they prioritize preserving cultural diversity and strengthening Vietnam as a producer and provider, not just as a consumer, of creative products.19 Unfortunately, their restrictions on foreign investment in cultural production undermine this objective, impoverishing the content marketplace and discouraging investment in the creation of new Vietnamese cultural materials. The restrictions also fuel demand for pirate product, instigating a vicious circle in which less legitimate product is produced. To facilitate commercial development of Vietnam’s cultural sector, Vietnam should look to internationally accepted standards and practices which are premised on the understanding that constraining market access for legitimate products complicates efforts to effectively combat piracy.