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US-Vietnam trade deal has serious implications for South-east Asia
Vietnam may have just set a higher bar for Asean countries, writes former US deputy trade representative.
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The agreement spares Vietnam from facing one of the steepest reciprocal tariff rates of any country at 46 per cent.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Wendy Cutler
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Last week’s announcement of the US-Vietnam trade deal
The outcomes of the talks are not a one-off – they will have serious implications for other countries, particularly Vietnam’s fellow Asean members. By sealing the first trade deal between the US and an Asian partner during the Trump administration’s 90-day tariff pause, Vietnam becomes the trendsetter for its neighbours as they struggle to finalise their own deals or seek an extension to work through remaining difficult matters.
