China Criticizes Trump’s Trade Deal With Vietnam

China has expressed concern as President Trump secures trade deals with other nations.

The deal with Vietnam lowers tariffs on Vietnamese exports to the U.S. from 46% to 20%. I Photo: 中华人民共和国商务部 MOFCOM Facebook

Beijing has criticized the U.S.-Vietnam trade deal, citing worries that the U.S. is using "Liberation Day" tariff negotiations to curb China’s export power, Jenny McCall reported for Yahoo Finance.

The deal with Vietnam, announced recently by President Trump, lowers tariffs on Vietnamese exports to the U.S. from 46% to 20%.

However, it maintains a 40% levy on “transshipping” of goods—when items exported from Vietnam originate elsewhere—a measure China believes targets its re-exports to the U.S.

The Financial Times reported: “The agreement, announced on Wednesday, is the second seen as targeting China since President Donald Trump outlined his ‘Liberation Day’ tariff increases on April 2.

In May, the U.S. and U.K. reached a deal that included strict security requirements for steel and pharmaceuticals, widely seen as aimed at excluding China from British supply chains.”

China’s commerce ministry said that it was “conducting an assessment” of the U.S.-Vietnam trade deal and stated: “We firmly oppose any party striking a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If such a situation arises, China will take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”