Vietnam Pushes Back Against Trump’s Tariffs as High-Stakes Trade Talks Begin

Hanoi, May 10 – Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has called the Trump administration’s recent reciprocal tariff measures “unreasonable,” as trade negotiations between Washington and Hanoi officially get underway.

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, ministry officials urged domestic companies and industry associations to send letters of complaint directly to U.S. officials, voicing opposition to the steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. According to a post on the ministry’s official website, Vietnamese businesses were also encouraged to coordinate with American partners and rally public and political support in the U.S. to preserve the smooth flow of Vietnamese exports.

Vietnam is among several nations caught in the latest wave of U.S. protectionist trade policies, with Trump aiming to resurrect American manufacturing by targeting countries he accuses of unfair trade practices. On April 2, the U.S. imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports, a move that prompted widespread concern among Vietnamese exporters. The tariff was later reduced to 10% for a 90-day period to allow time for bilateral negotiations.

In a bid to ease tensions, the Vietnamese government on Wednesday directed local firms to significantly increase imports of high-value American goods, hoping to demonstrate goodwill and prevent further tariff escalation in what remains Vietnam’s most critical export market.

During Thursday’s meeting, the ministry also called on businesses to submit documentation proving that their goods are genuinely manufactured in Vietnam, in an effort to rebut any claims of transshipment or origin fraud—issues that have raised red flags in U.S. trade enforcement circles.

At the same time, officials advised Vietnamese firms to diversify their export strategies by seeking alternative markets, reminding stakeholders that Vietnam is part of multiple trade agreements with major economies around the world.

As trade tensions rise, the outcome of the ongoing talks will be pivotal—not only for Vietnamese manufacturers, but also for broader regional supply chains and U.S. companies reliant on Vietnamese imports. The 90-day tariff reprieve may provide a narrow window for both sides to forge a compromise and avoid long-term economic disruption.

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Source: Vietnam Insider