Vietnam and the European Union are in the crosshairs of the United States government’s preeminent trade authority for allegedly selling counterfeit footwear and apparel exports into the U.S. market and undercutting American producers with violative policies. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ( USTR ) on Thursday released its annual Special 301 report calling out the economies it says have failed to adequately protect and enforce intellectual property rights. “We have rigorously reviewed our trading partners’ IP practices and expect to take action where needed to protect American innovators and creators globally,” said USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer upon the report’s release. “Using all the enforcement tools we have to address unfair trade practices is a top priority.” Vietnam was identified as a Priority Foreign Country (PFC), the highest tier on the list.…