Firms in Vietnam Walk Tightrope as U.S. Cracks Down on China-Linked Trade

Ex-Chief Negotiator, Iman Pambagyo, warns ASEAN not to fall for Trump's U.S. tariffs trap, calling for realism, leadership, and diversification.
Workers in apparel factories in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ex-Chief Negotiator, Iman Pambagyo, warns ASEAN not to fall for Trump's U.S. tariffs trap, calling for realism, leadership, and diversification. (Photo by Huu Kha / AFP)

By Lam Nguyen with Sally Jensen in Bangkok

As Donald Trump’s eye-watering tariffs on Chinese products passing through Vietnam are set to kick in Friday, companies in the Southeast Asian country are cautiously waiting to see what falls into that category.

  • 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 Agence France-Presse

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
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans

You Might Like

Caught in the Crossfire: Vietnam and the Chinese Transshipment Dilemma

By Le Hong Hiep On 2 July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new U.S.–Vietnam trade deal, declaring that “Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% tariff on any and all ...

Chinese Business in Vietnam Struggles With Trump Tariffs Uncertainty

A year ago Zhang Chundong helped the firm he manages expand into Vietnam, part of a wave of Chinese businesses to choose the booming manufacturing hub since the trade war of U.S. President ...
Ex-Chief Negotiator, Iman Pambagyo, warns ASEAN not to fall for Trump's U.S. tariffs trap, calling for realism, leadership, and diversification.

U.S. Targets Attempts to Dodge Trump Tariffs With China in Crosshairs

By Beiyi Seow As President Donald Trump ramps up tariff threats on U.S. trading partners, his administration is taking aim at a tactic said to be used by Chinese companies to dodge the ...

Q&A: Does China Benefit From the U.S. Stripping Cameroon of Its AGOA Privileges? Yes. No. Maybe.

At first glance, it would seem that the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Cameroon’s free-trade privileges would be counterproductive at this time when the U.S. is battling hard against the Chinese for influence ...

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