Vietnam’s top leaders have asked Lam to delay the imposition of tariffs for at least 45 days, so both parties can destroy the Vietnamese economy and avoid a move to raise prices for American consumers.
The 46% tariff rate the US says will impose on Vietnam is one of the best that all countries face. Such a sudden tariff outlook left Vietnam with a sense of whiplash and deep anxiety. Also, Washington’s recent Hanoi is a key breakwater against China, in contrast to its embrace as a manufacturer of many American apparel brands.
Lamb’s proposal to President Trump was mentioned in a letter Saturday, according to a copy obtained by the New York Times. In the letter, Lamb called on Trump to appoint a US representative to lead negotiations with Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Ho Duc Phoc.
Lamb was one of the first world leaders to reach out to Trump after the tariffs were announced. In a call, he offered to reduce tariffs on US imports to zero, urging Trump to do the same, according to the Vietnamese government. Vietnam says that tariffs on US goods average 9.4%.
Trump later described the call as “very productive.”
In his letter, Lamb asked Trump to meet him in person in Washington at the end of May.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.
Vietnam, which faces high punished tariffs along with China, Cambodia and Laos, will become Asia’s most intense economy if imposed as planned on Wednesday. The US is Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for around 30% of the country’s total exports. According to ING, a Dutch-based financial services company, the 46% tariff rate puts 5.5% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product at risk.
Also, Vietnam is important in the global manufacturing supply chain, which will hurt American consumers. For decades, the country has built its economy around attracting foreign investment with a cheap and young workforce. Currently, it is a leading manufacturer of brands such as Adidas and Lululemon. Nike makes about 50% of its footwear in Vietnam.
After Trump imposed tariffs on China during his first term, Vietnam benefited from companies shifting manufacturing there.
Within Hanoi, recent moves by the Trump administration have raised questions about the credibility of the United States, which has been eagerly courting Vietnam in recent years. In 2023, the two former enemies solidified a new strategic relationship. This is a move that is considered a milestone in US foreign policy. Vietnam fought decades of brutal war with the United States, but investigations showed that many Vietnamese welcomed the political and strategic influence of the United States.
The Biden administration saw Vietnam – one of the few Southeast Asian countries publicly pushed back by China’s claims in the South China Sea, believes it is important for the US efforts to counter China’s growing ambitions in the region.
“Vietnam’s position in the Pacific, his view on China and his willingness to work with the US were the most powerful cards,” said Huong Le Thu, Asia’s Associate Program Director for International Crisis Group. “Trump doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t see its allies or strategic values. He’s just looking at numbers and tariffs, so Vietnam needs to work harder.”
Analysts say Vietnam has a large portion of Trump in its first administration with positive opinions, and he sees him as a practical businessman who doesn’t moralize with them over human rights.
Explaining the tariffs, Trump said: “Vietnam: Great negotiators, great people, they like me. I like them.” He said the “problem” is that the country will indict “90%” against the United States. The figure appears to have been reached based on Vietnam’s current trade surplus worth $123.5 billion, and on the trade surplus with the US. (Vietnam disputed the calculation.)
Tariffs come at a time of volatility for Lam, who was appointed general secretary of the Vietnamese ruling Communist Party last year after the death of former party chief Nguyen Phu Trong. Lamb will need to ensure strong economic performance as he heads for next year’s party convention.
Even before Trump’s tariff announcement, Vietnam was working to gain favor with the new administration. It signed a temporary deal to import US liquefied natural gas, reducing tariffs on US imports, allowing SpaceX to open a company and launch Starlink Satellite Internet Service in Vietnam. The Trump organization is developing a $1.5 billion golf course and hotel project in Lam’s hometown of Hang Yen province in northern Vietnam.
Alexandra Stevenson contributed the report.
