HCMC – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham Hanoi) have called on the U.S. government to postpone the reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese goods, warning the move could disrupt trade and strain bilateral business ties.
In a letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and other relevant authorities, the two business associations warned that the 46% tariff on imports from Vietnam could hurt companies and consumers in both countries, while straining the bilateral trade relationship.
The proposal comes after the April 2 announcement by President Donald Trump to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from all nations, with Vietnam being among the U.S. trade partners facing the highest tariffs. VCCI and AmCham Hanoi expressed concerns that the sudden tariff increases would disrupt supply chains and logistics, and create uncertainty for businesses operating across borders.
Representing the interests of both Vietnamese and American businesses, VCCI and AmCham Hanoi called for constructive dialogue between the two governments. They urged efforts to develop a joint plan to address the U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam, in a manner that promotes mutual prosperity and improves living standards.
The letter also highlighted recent moves by the Vietnamese Government to demonstrate its commitment to balancing trade. These include a reduction in import duties on 13 groups of items, providing direct benefits to U.S. exporters. Vietnamese leaders have also pledged to ease market access for more American goods.
In addition, VCCI and AmCham noted ongoing collaboration with Vietnamese authorities to resolve challenges in areas such as digital trade, pharmaceutical imports, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, taxation, public procurement, and data management.
The organizations voiced support for pursuing a bilateral trade agreement, as mentioned in a recent phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Party General Secretary To Lam. They said such an agreement could lead to the removal of tariffs and trade barriers, enhancing economic ties between the two nations.
