In April 2025, Vietnam expressed its willingness to negotiate with the United States, reducing the import tariff on goods from the U.S. to 0%, and requested that the U.S. also adopt the same approach for Vietnamese exports. Previously, the U.S. had imposed a high tariff of 46% on Vietnam, and Vietnam hoped to take this measure to avoid being "harmed" too severely.
This decision by Vietnam is one of its efforts to implement a trade balance policy and leverage its strategic position to circumvent the U.S. "reciprocal tariff" measures.
Vietnam has taken other measures as well, such as promising in late March to actively address U.S. concerns, encouraging imports of U.S. advantaged products including agricultural products, liquefied natural gas, and high-tech products, and attempting to attract SpaceX to develop in Vietnam.
However, it is only Vietnam's unilateral statement of willingness to implement zero tariffs; the U.S. has not yet clearly responded whether it will adopt reciprocal measures, and there remains uncertainty as to whether the two sides can truly reach a zero-tariff agreement.
Many people look down on Vietnam for bowing to the U.S., but there is no need to be so dismissive. In recent years, many foreign-invested industries have moved to Vietnam, and many Chinese supporting enterprises have also followed them to Vietnam.
In the face of Trump targeting China with his tariff stick, Vietnam's act of bowing is indeed a good move. Since avoiding being caught up in the U.S.-China trade war is inevitable, then we must find alternative ways.
If Vietnam's compromise can achieve its goals, under current circumstances, it may not be a bad thing for China.
Have you noticed anything when analyzing the bilateral trade volume and import/export commodity structure between China and Vietnam?
How much of Vietnam's exports to the U.S. and Europe rely on an indispensable Chinese industrial chain? ASEAN is China's largest trading partner, and Vietnam ranks first among ASEAN countries in terms of trade with China.
Last year, the trade volume between China and Vietnam reached $205.2 billion, with China exporting $144 billion worth of goods to Vietnam and Vietnam exporting $61.2 billion worth of goods to China. China had a trade surplus of $82.8 billion. The main commodities exported by China to Vietnam were not cars or mobile phones, but various raw materials and electromechanical products.
In 2025, the bilateral trade volume between ASEAN and Vietnam will set another record high.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7490501700294476303/
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