A phone call between US President Donald Trump and Vietnam’s leader To Lam is set to “cool down” the temperature and allow further negotiations, with the Southeast Asian nation bearing the brunt of America’s sweeping tariffs, according to observers.
The talk between the two leaders is also a clear indication that under the transactional approach embraced by the Trump administration, tariffs are negotiable.
During the call described by Trump as “very productive”, both sides agreed to discuss a deal to remove the 46 per cent tariffs imposed on Vietnam.
Trump said on social media his Vietnamese counterpart had told him that “Vietnam wants to cut their tariffs down to zero if they are able to make an agreement with the US”.
“I thanked him on behalf of our country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future,” the American president said, after the call which took place on Thursday night, Vietnam time.
The two leaders agreed they would continue talking “to soon sign a bilateral agreement” on tariffs, the Vietnamese government said, adding that Trump accepted an invitation to visit the country soon.
