Donald Trump announced the conclusion of a trade agreement with Vietnam, the details of which remain undisclosed and have not yet been confirmed by Hanoi. According to him, the new terms imply a 20% duty on Vietnamese goods, which is lower than the previously announced 46%. However, for re-exports, that is, goods transported through Vietnam from other countries without significant processing, a tariff of 40% is introduced. These measures are aimed at countering Chinese manufacturers who use Vietnam to circumvent US duties. From 2017 to 2024, Vietnam's exports to the United States tripled to $137 billion. At the same time, China's share of U.S. imports decreased from 21.4% to 13.4%, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Vietnamese side only announced the signing of a joint statement and expressed a desire to obtain the status of a market economy, as well as to lift restrictions on the export of American technologies. Experts emphasize that the US trade agreements with Vietnam and the UK demonstrate a strategy of pressure on China. The possible inclusion of provisions to restrict ownership of enterprises could set a precedent for Southeast Asian countries and undermine the Chinese model of offshore production.
