In Trump's tariff wars, Vietnam's bold gambit isn't for everyone

Deal-making pragmatism can satisfy US president without fallout at home

Trump resort

People attend a groundbreaking ceremony held by the Trump Organization and a partner for a luxury residential development with three 18-hole golf courses in Hung Yen, a province in northern Vietnam, on May 21. © Reuters

Dien Luong is a visiting fellow with the media, technology and society program of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Hoang Thi Ha is a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and co-coordinator of its regional strategic and political studies program.

With just weeks remaining before President Donald Trump's punishing tariffs -- some as high as 50% --snap back into place, nations around the world are scrambling to secure trade deals with Washington. Trump's 90-day pause, imposed in April to bring pressure for rapid negotiations aimed at shrinking America's $1.2 trillion trade deficit, has countries racing against time to avert looming economic disruption and supply-chain chaos.

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