讀後心得

The Vietnamese government has announced the establishment of a special task force to respond to the 46% high tariffs imposed by the United States. Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries bear the heavy responsibility of exporting goods to the United States and are under immense pressure, with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasizing the need to maintain an annual growth target of 8%. Thailand and Malaysia are also planning to initiate negotiations, with the former hoping to reduce the tariffs to 37%, while Malaysia seeks a solution that aligns with free trade. In contrast to these countries, Cambodia is affected by a 49% tariff, facing a severe economic crisis and lacking negotiating leverage.

The Vietnamese government announced on Thursday (April 3) that it will establish a special task force to address the high tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. In addition, other Southeast Asian countries also plan to negotiate with Washington. Countries like Vietnam and Thailand are major exporters to the United States. As Trump imposed tariffs on China during his first term, many manufacturers from China and internationally shifted production to these countries, bringing them significant benefits.

Among the nine Southeast Asian countries listed by Trump, six are facing unexpectedly high tariffs ranging from 32% to 49%. In comparison, the tariff rate for the European Union is only 20%. As of now, no Southeast Asian country has indicated that it will implement retaliatory tariffs. The reason for Vietnam's establishment of a special task force is the presence of large production bases in Vietnam for companies such as Apple, Nike, and Samsung Electronics. Facing a 46% tariff imposes significant pressure on Vietnam. Last year, Vietnam's total exports to the U.S. reached $142 billion, accounting for nearly 30% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Prime Minister of Vietnam instructed the formation of the special task force during an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday. According to reports, he emphasized that the government will maintain its annual growth target of 8% unchanged.

“Vietnam's export-oriented growth model has been very successful in attracting a large number of multinational corporations, but the 46% U.S. tariff will directly challenge this model,” stated a lawyer stationed in Vietnam. Additionally, Vietnam has previously made several concessions to Washington to avoid tariffs and is expected to propose more potential solutions in the coming days. An executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce stated that he anticipates continued negotiations between the parties to mitigate the impact of the new tariffs.

In Thailand, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the U.S. would reduce the imposed 37% tariff and emphasized the need for in-depth discussions on the details, stating that he does not want the situation to impact GDP targets. Thailand's economic growth has lagged since last year, with only 2.5% growth. The Thai government is prepared for negotiations and remains confident about the prospect of discussions.

Malaysia faces a 24% tariff, but the government has stated that it will not take retaliatory measures and plans to actively engage with U.S. authorities to seek solutions that align with the spirit of free and fair trade. In comparison, Cambodia has almost no negotiating leverage, facing a 49% tariff, which would severely impact the country's garment and footwear industries. An investment consultant remarked that this is an extremely serious economic crisis, and Cambodia has little advantage in negotiations.