Trump announces deal with Vietnam, includes 20% import tariff rate

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he has reached a trade deal with Vietnam, just ahead of the 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs ending for more than 90 countries that barter with the U.S.

Goods from Vietnam to the U.S. will now face a 20% import tax, instead of the 46% duty rate Trump said he would impose on merchandise from the country during his “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2.

Trump also said goods from Vietnam to the U.S. could also be hit with tariffs as high as 40% if they originated in another country and were transferred to Vietnam for final shipment to the United States.

“It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries. The Terms are that Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% Tariff on any and all goods sent into our Territory, and a 40% Tariff on any Transshipping.”

The Trump administration’s broad “reciprocal” tariff plan announced April 2 on about 90 U.S. trade partners included a baseline 10% duty rate on almost all goods, as well as 25% tariffs on certain imported vehicles and auto parts.

Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs on imports from most countries for 90 days on April 9, but kept a 10% baseline import tax in place for almost all U.S. trading partners, including Vietnam.

The general tariff rate against goods from Vietnam to the U.S. will now increase from 10% to 20% under the deal announced Wednesday. Tariffs are taxes on imports that are charged to businesses bringing products into a country.

As part of the new deal, Vietnam will give the U.S. access to its markets with no tariff rate, Trump said.

Related: US, China agree on deal for tariffs, rare-earth magnets

Vietnam is currently the seventh largest U.S. trading partner, totaling $149.6 billion in two-way commerce in 2024, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. Imports from Vietnam to the U.S. totaled $136.6 billion last year.

The U.S. primarily imports goods like apparel, electrical machinery, and footwear from Vietnam. Top exports from the U.S. to Vietnam include raw cotton, integrated circuits, and telecommunications equipment.

On Tuesday, Trump said that he is not considering extending the pause for countries that the U.S. has been unable to negotiate trade deals with.

“No, I’m not thinking about the pause,” Trump said Tuesday to reporters aboard Air Force One, according to Bloomberg. “I’ll be writing letters to a lot of countries.”

The Trump administration has announced trade deals with the United Kingdom and China —  though neither agreements have been finalized.

The post Trump announces deal with Vietnam, includes 20% import tariff rate appeared first on FreightWaves.