Hanoi chicken farmer Nguyen Huu Tuyen blames inexpensive poultry imported from the U.S. for the loss of almost $14,000 (¥1.7 million) this year.

Farmers such as Tuyen say the only way American companies can undercut Vietnamese poultry prices is if they export chicken at artificially low prices or ship damaged meat to the Southeast Asian country.

The chicken flap is a wake-up call for Vietnam as it embraces free trade agreements. Some sectors will be vulnerable to competition from foreign corporate giants benefiting from economies of scale and sophisticated supply chains. Vietnam, which announced a free trade agreement with the European Union Aug. 4 and signed one with South Korea in May, wants to be part of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership now being negotiated.