Trump publicizes commerce cope with Vietnam : NPR

President Trump says the U.S. has made a commerce cope with Vietnam as a part of his push to renegotiate tariffs with dozens of various international locations all over the world. It comes because the president’s self-imposed deadline for these tariff negotiations is only a week away.

In a social media publish, Trump stated tariffs will now be 20% on items from Vietnam and 40% on items shipped by means of Vietnam. Whereas Trump wrote that Vietnam can pay these tariffs, that’s unfaithful. U.S. companies importing items from Vietnam will probably be paying the taxes to the federal government.

He stated that in return, Vietnam would “give the US of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Commerce,” that means that “we can promote our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.” He particularly cited SUVs as a product that will be exported in bigger numbers to Vietnam. Nonetheless, the White Home has not launched additional particulars on this settlement.

The announcement got here after Trump in April proposed a steep 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports — one of many highest charges utilized to any nation — saying he would tackle the U.S. commerce deficit with Vietnam. He has since briefly set the tariff at 10%, which Trump known as a “pause,” pending tariff negotiations between officers in Hanoi and Washington.

Commerce relations between the U.S. and Vietnam have grown remarkably for the reason that U.S. lifted its financial embargo on Vietnam in 1994. The 2 international locations normalized diplomatic ties in 1995.

In 2001, the U.S. and Vietnam signed a bilateral commerce settlement, granting Vietnam most-favored-nation standing and paving the best way for its ascension into the World Commerce Group.

Over the subsequent twenty years, commerce between the 2 nations skyrocketed, reaching $149.6 billion by 2024 — a few 50-fold improve since 2002.

In 2023, the U.S. and Vietnam elevated their relationship to a “complete strategic partnership,” strengthening ties which were essential to Vietnam’s financial development. The U.S. is now Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for almost a 3rd of its complete exports. Based on the Commerce Division, Vietnam’s most important exports to the U.S. embrace equipment, home equipment, clothes and sneakers.

Nonetheless, with important commerce imbalance favoring Vietnam elevating considerations in Washington — the U.S. commerce deficit reached over $123.5 billion in 2024 and $39.1 billion within the first quarter of 2025, U.S. officers have been urgent Vietnam to deal with non-trade limitations, fight fraud, and curb unlawful transshipments. In addition they urge Vietnam to additional open its market to U.S. items and companies.

The Vietnamese authorities set an formidable 8% development goal for 2025, however a current report supported by the Asian Growth Financial institution recommended that U.S. reciprocal tariffs of 20% or larger may hinder reaching this objective.