U.S. to Vietnam: “Zero Tariffs, That Means Nothing to Us,” It’s Chinese Transshipments That Are the Main Focus

White House Senior Trade Advisor Peter Navarro told CNBC that he's much more concerned about Chinese transshipments through Vietnam than the Southeast Asian country's tariff on U.S. imports. Image via CNBC.

Vietnam is desperately trying to stave off a potentially devastating 46% tariff on all exports to the United States that will on Wednesday. Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump personally last week for a 45-day implementation delay in the hope that will give Hanoi enough time to reach a deal.

The Southeast Asian country is squarely in Washington’s crosshairs due partly to its $123 billion trade surplus with the U.S., the third-largest behind China and Mexico.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Indonesia Begins $5.9 Billion Chinese EV Battery Project Despite Environment Fears

You Might Like

China Slams U.S., Urges to Abandon Tariffs on Solar Panel, Warns of Climate Risks

China on Thursday slammed the United States’ move to impose tariffs as high as 271% on solar panel imports from Southeast Asia, calling it a protectionist measure that jeopardizes global climate efforts. The tariffs, ...
Trump is imposing steep tariffs on major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, with a lower rate on Canadian energy imports, said the White House on February 1, 2025. Washington will impose a 25 percent levy on imports from Canada and Mexico, with a 10 percent rate on Canadian energy resources, until both work with the United States on drug trafficking and immigration. Goods from China, said the White House, would face 10 percent tariffs.

Trump’s Tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico Spark Swift Retaliation, Fueling Trade War Fears

Trump’s tariffs, U.S. trade war, China retaliation, Canada and Mexico tariffs dominate the headlines as United States President Donald Trump announces sweeping tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, setting the stage for ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Vietnam on Monday, April 14, 2025, for a two-day state visit that is expected to yield around 40 new cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies, and localities.

China Condemns U.S. Tariffs: Fentanyl Is America’s Problem

China on Sunday forcefully criticized the United States’ decision to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese exports, calling Fentanyl is America’s problem and warning of severe economic consequences. Beijing vowed to ...

The Birth of a China-Centric Trade World

The recent controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s on-again-off-again imposition of tariffs on trade partners (and China’s countermeasures) has focused on the United States’ centrality to the current global trade system. In response, countries are ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP