Vietnam has formally requested that the United States delay the implementation of steep new tariffs set to take effect on April 9, testing how much room there may be to negotiate within President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade agenda.
Vietnamese Communist Party leader To Lam was among the first world leaders to speak with Trump after the U.S. president unveiled a sweeping set of tariffs on nearly all countries exporting to the U.S. Vietnam was hit particularly hard, with a 46% tariff rate—one of the highest announced.
Vietnam’s economic growth has surged in recent years, driven largely by manufacturing and exports. The country has been a major beneficiary of companies shifting supply chains away from China amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington. The U.S. is now Vietnam’s largest export market.
As the trade war between the U.S. and China intensifies, Vietnam is seeking to avoid becoming collateral damage. On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son met with U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper in Hanoi and requested a postponement of the tariffs to allow time for negotiation, according to an official government dispatch.
Son’s request echoed the contents of a letter from To Lam to President Trump, dated April 5 and circulating online, in which the Vietnamese leader asks for at least a 45-day delay in enforcing the reciprocal tariffs. The New York Times reported on the letter and said it had obtained a copy. NPR has not independently verified its authenticity.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc—who has been appointed as a special envoy to the U.S.—told Vietnamese companies Friday that the government was seeking a one- to three-month delay. Phoc is scheduled to travel to the U.S. and Cuba from April 6 to 16 and will participate in a high-level policy dialogue while in Washington.
According to the Vietnamese government, Son told Ambassador Knapper that during Phoc’s visit, Hanoi would push for the U.S. to make the tariff issue a priority, stressing that it was vital for the people and businesses of both countries.
Son also said the tariff decision “does not reflect the spirit of the Vietnam–United States comprehensive strategic partnership” and argued that it is out of step with the reality of the two nations’ growing economic ties.
The U.S. embassy in Hanoi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
