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Vietnam’s tightrope walk in Trump’s new tariff order
In a world where tariffs shift with politics, the South-east Asian nation must move faster than the storm
Published Wed, Aug 27, 2025 · 07:00 AM
WHEN US President Trump declared “Liberation Day” tariffs earlier this year and signalled a reset in global trade, Hanoi moved fast – offering tariff cuts, pledging to buy more US goods, and hinting at deeper cooperation.
The goal? Avoid being caught in Trump’s tariff dragnet.
Yet, in early July, Washington slapped a 20 per cent tariff on Vietnamese exports. That was less than the threatened 40 per cent, but still a punishing blow for a small economy deeply reliant on US access.
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