Vietnam willing to slash tariffs on US goods to zero: top leader
Vietnam is willing to negotiate with the United States to cut import tariffs on U.S. goods down to zero, Party chief To Lam said during a phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday.
Lam proposed the United States to do the same for Vietnamese exports.
He added that Vietnam seeks to increase imports from the U.S. and will encourage and create favourable conditions for American businesses to further invest in the country.

Party General Secretary To Lam has a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on late April 4, 2025. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.
During their talk, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation for their countries' benefits and contributing to global and regional peace, stability, and development.
They shared the assessment that Vietnam-U.S. relations have been thriving across many areas, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two leaders discussed measures to further facilitate bilateral trade. They agreed to maintain discussions to soon sign a bilateral agreement to detail the aforementioned commitments.
On this occasion, Party General Secretary To Lam extended an invitation to President Trump and the First Lady to visit Vietnam at their earliest convenience.
President Trump accepted the invitation and expressed his desire to meet with To Lam soon. He also asked the Party chief to convey his warm regards to Vietnam's leaders and people, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The phone call took place only two days after President Trump announced a round of ‘reciprocal tariffs’ against many of U.S. trading partners, in which Vietnam is hit with a massive 46% tariff.
At a press meeting on Thursday, Truong Ba Tuan, deputy director of the Ministry of Finance's tax policy department, stated that Vietnam's tariffs on imports from the U.S. are much lower than the 90% or 46% calculated by this country.
Tuan cited U.S. trade statistics in a report as saying that Vietnam's average tax rate applied to U.S. goods is only about 9.4%. "Most U.S. goods exported to Vietnam are subject to a maximum tax of 15% or lower," he stressed
In a Friday release, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Vietnam stated that the "suddenness of their implementation and the substantial scale of the tariffs have created significant uncertainty and potential disruption for businesses operating in Vietnam."
"AmCham members require certainty and stability to operate effectively. We ask both governments to expedite negotiations aimed at reducing these duties to the lowest possible levels," the chamber wrote.
Trump on Wednesday announced that he will levy a 46% duty on imports from Vietnam, effective April 9, as part of a new wave of global impositions. The tax for Vietnam is among the highest, only after Laos (48%) and Madagasca (47%).
It is higher than many others like Sri Lanka and Myanmar (44%), Bangladesh (37%), Thailand (36%), mainland China (34%), Taiwan (32%), India (26%), South Korea (25%), Japan and Malaysia (24%), the EU (20%), and the Philippines (17%).
Vietnamese exporters have voiced concern that if the 46% tariff rate is imposed, they will face massive difficulties. However, some experts argued that the tariff, effective from April 9, is not as alarming as it seems, as the situation will ultimately depend on the negotiations between the two parties.
According to Vietnam Customs, in 2024, Vietnam exported goods worth $119.5 billion to the U.S. and spent $15.1 billion on imports from this economy. There were 15 items with billion-U.S. dollar export turnovers, of which three dominant groups were computers and components ($23.2 billion), machinery and equipment ($22 billion), and textile ($16.2 billion).
Phones, wood, and footwear were also the items that recorded great export values, in the range of $8.3-9.8 billion. Agricultural products also made important contributions, such as cashew nuts and seafood with $1.15 billion and 1.83 billion, respectively, and coffee with nearly $323 million.
* Link to the Vietnam section in President Trump's tariffs announcement.
- Read More
AmCham Vietnam voices concerns over President Trump's massive tariffs
The 46% reciprocal tariffs announced by President Donald Trump have created significant uncertainty and potential disruption for companies operating in Vietnam, said the American Chamber of Commerce.
Economy - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 9:51 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s tariffs much lower than those calculated by US: official
Vietnam's tariffs on imports from the U.S. are much lower than the 90% or 46% calculated by this country, said Truong Ba Tuan, deputy director of the Ministry of Finance's tax policy department.
Economy - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 9:23 pm GMT+7
US's hefty 46% tariff worries Vietnamese exporters
Vietnamese exporters have voiced concern that if the 46% tariff rate announced by President Donald Trump Wednesday is imposed, they will face massive difficulties.
Economy - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 4:52 pm GMT+7
'Pepper king' Phuc Sinh receives $15 mln capital injection from Dutch bank FMO
Phuc Sinh JSC, a leading pepper and coffee exporter in Vietnam, has received $15 million from Dutch Business Development Bank (FMO) to build a coffee factory in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.
Companies - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 4:14 pm GMT+7
Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh to return to board chairperson position at utility major REE Corp
Ashok Ramachandran will become general director of Vietnam’s private utility firm REE Corp, while Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh will return to the position of chairperson of the board of directors.
Companies - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 3:48 pm GMT+7
Former Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh subject to disciplinary action
Vietnam's Central Inspection Committee has proposed competent authorities consider disciplining Truong Hoa Binh, former Politburo member and former standing Deputy Prime Minister.
Politics - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 2:17 pm GMT+7
Stavian-Shinec partnership targets industrial real estate sustainability
Stavian, a multinational industrial and technology group, and Shinec Group, one of Vietnam's pioneering enterprises in developing ecological industrial parks, will join hands to develop industrial real estate projects.
Industrial real estate - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 1:08 pm GMT+7
The impact of Trump's tariffs on Vietnam
Sources said that Trump administration officials appreciate Vietnam's initial efforts to reduce the trade deficit for the U.S, but they "will not be assuaged by promises to make purchases at some future date". It will be interesting to see how Vietnam engages with the U.S. to mitigate the impacts of the tariff, writes Michael Kokalari, chief economist at VinaCapital.
Consulting - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 12:05 pm GMT+7
Menas Vietnam, Keppel ink strategic partnership in utility ecosystem development for property projects
Menas Vietnam Co., Ltd, based in Ho Chi Minh City, has announced its strategic partnership with Singapore’s Keppel Ltd., a global leader in asset management and infrastructure operation.
Real Estate - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 11:19 am GMT+7
Solar panel, battery storage projects to take shape in northern Vietnam
Two energy projects are set to be launched in the northern province of Hung Yen, a neighbor of Hanoi, following an MoU recently signed by investors from Vietnam, China, and Singapore.
Energy - Fri, April 4, 2025 | 8:17 am GMT+7
Vietnam sets up 'quick reaction force' as US announces massive 46% import tariff
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested the immediate establishment of a rapid reaction force, following President Donald Trump announcing that the U.S. will impose reciprocal tariff of 46% on goods imported from Vietnam.
Economy - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 9:45 pm GMT+7
How businesses in Vietnam can navigate newest US tariff reality
Market diversification and exploring production partnerships in countries that face lower tariffs are things that Vietnamese enterprises can do to navigate this new tariff environment, writes Dr. Scott McDonald, a lecturer of logistics and supply chain management at RMIT University Vietnam.
Consulting - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 5:01 pm GMT+7
Insurer Manulife Vietnam invests $4.7 bln in wholly-owned fund management firm
Manulife Vietnam, under Canada-headquartered life insurer Manulife, poured a total VND118.37 trillion ($4.7 billion) under an investment trust into its wholly-owned fund management company as of end-2024.
Companies - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 4:48 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index records sharpest fall in history following President Trump's tax announcement
The VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), plunged nearly 88 points, or 6.68%, to 1,229.84 on Thursday, wiping out all the gains it has made since the beginning of the year within one trading session.
Finance - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 4:27 pm GMT+7
UK seafood makes splash in Vietnam in major export boost
The UK seafood industry has made a breakthrough as Vietnam grants market access for British live seafood products, opening new opportunities for growth and trade.
Economy - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 2:55 pm GMT+7
Don’t panic over US’s 46% tariff on Vietnam goods: experts
The U.S.’s 46% tariff imposition on imports from Vietnam, effective from April 9, is not as alarming as it seems, as the situation will ultimately depend on the negotiations between the two parties, said experts.
Economy - Thu, April 3, 2025 | 2:38 pm GMT+7