With tariff gambit, Trump pushes Vietnam to choose between U.S. and China (www.washingtonpost.com)
from zaxvenz@lemm.ee to world@lemmy.world on 10 Apr 2025 16:50
https://lemm.ee/post/60943356

While Trump has paused his whopping 46 percent tariff on Vietnam, economists say the export-reliant country still faces painful decisions.

#world

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Jaysyn@lemmy.world on 10 Apr 2025 17:02 next collapse

That’s also not going to go the way Trump plans.

Nougat@fedia.io on 10 Apr 2025 18:52 collapse

"Plans."

nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 10 Apr 2025 17:20 next collapse

I don’t have the best grasp on Vietnamese history but I believe they dont have much love for either of these countries historically. I believe, iirc, they have in the past few years been open to more American trade and influence but not sure that sentiment is true with Trump in office.

If we make them pick one, it won’t be the US simply because China is the far more reliable partner. The US could leave you high and dry every four years based on how a few hundred thousand people in key districts in about five states feel. You can’t build a stable economic foundation on top of the whims of the worst people from places like Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml on 10 Apr 19:39 collapse

Not to mention the US still hasn’t paid reparations for their genocide, and trump dismantled programs designed to clean up Vietnam era bombs and pollution that still kill people there, while China is partnering with them to build infrastructure. There’s still a lot of animosity over Chinas invasion though, they really should have sided with the Vietnamese over the Khmer Rouge, but they were trying to get closer to the US at that time, who also supported the Khmer Rouge.

Strawberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 10 Apr 21:34 collapse

Worse, even. The US forced Vietnam to pay the debts owed by their own fascist puppet regime they had installed in the South of Vietnam

ElectricAirship@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 10 Apr 2025 19:07 collapse

Japan has outsourced a lot of manufacturing and labor to Vietnam as well. Considering Japan is one of the biggest economies currently, why are they not mentioned as another possible choice?

friend_of_satan@lemmy.world on 11 Apr 00:14 next collapse

Japan is also helping Vietnam build its first subway in Saigon. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/…/vietnam-subway-oda/

tiredofsametab@fedia.io on 11 Apr 00:21 collapse

Aligning with Japan, depending upon what that means, doesn't mean much. Japan imports most of its resources and the economy relies largely on vehicle exports. Japan also needs the US or a replacement to keep this going (and that probably wouldn't be China as Chinese have other options and generally don't want to buy a number of Japanese things, especially cars).