US President Donald Trump, “Editing Day“Book some of the highest tariff rates in Southeast Asia. Economists expected To see some goals, such as the manufacture of the Vietnam Center, in the Trump tariff list. Other goals, such as the neighboring Cambodia, were more surprising – all shocked by the sharp tariffs imposed on the region, often extending to a range of 40 %.

April 2 was launched from the stampede in Southeast Asia, which relied on exports to growth. Both Vietnam and Cambodia are already Display To reduce customs duties on us imports. But it is unlikely to calm down everyone in the Trump administration. Trade Adviser Peter Navarro accused Vietnam of “uncontrolled fraud” indicates the value of the country’s value -added tax and its use by Chinese manufacturers to evade American definitions. Trade Minister Howard Lootnick as well Argue The great trade surplus in Vietnam means that it tears the United States

However, what Navarro, Lutnick and Trump – completely balanced trade with countries like Vietnam – want tall. These countries promised to buy more American goods, such as planes or energy. However, in fact, Southeast Asian countries are not rich enough to buy enough American consumer goods to balance their exports.

According to the World Bank, the per capita GDP in Cambodia was slightly more than $ 2,400 in 2023, compared to $ 82,800 for the United States

This raises the possibility that there is nothing that Vietnam or Cambodia can offer would make the Trump administration happy, making the sharp tariff a permanent part of American trade to Southeast Asia.

Why did Donald Trump imposed such a sharp tariff on countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos?

Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos means all to the United States much more than it is imported. Given A direct method The Trump administration calculated the “Liberation Day” tariffIn essence, the trade surplus was divided into total imports – emerging manufacturing centers such as Vietnam will always get a high tariff.

“What ended is that the mutual tariff was defined as the rate of tariff necessary to drop the commercial balance to scratch,” said Adam Ahmed Samidin, an economist in Singapore who covers the Asian economies in Oxford Economic.

This means that Trump’s tariff has nothing to do with what Vietnam or Cambodia imposed, for example, data from the World Trade Organization Show The average simple tariff rate in Vietnam was only 9.4 %.

Both Vietnam and Cambodia products export technical products to American Vietnam electronics such as laptops, mobile phones and video game devices; Cambodia emites solar panels. Both are also exporting fast -moving consumer goods such as clothes, shoes and bags. Laos, one of the neighbors of Kambodia and Vietnam, is emerging solar cells and fast -moving consumer goods such as shoes and textiles. (Laos got a 48 % tariff rate from Trump last week, while Vietnam and Cambodia got 46 % and 49 %, respectively).

“The reason is that the economies of Southeast Asia were a major destination [for manufacturing] “Really because of the relatively low cost of employment in relation to the amount of skills that the workforce is there,” Samdeen said. The average American worker entered several times. “

What happens after that?

The high definitions in the United States are a major threat to growth in Southeast Asia, which has Benefit From “China One plus” approach to diversifying the supply chain.

DBS indicates, in a recent report, that the American customs tariff can reduce economic growth in Vietnam by up to 2.5 percentage points; Singapore Bank initially expects 6.8 % growth for the country of Southeast Asia this year.

Economists believe that most Asian economies will try to negotiate with the United States, unlike China’s most aggressive revenge for Trump’s tariff. “American exports to Asia are small in the quantity, which gives the region the least” for revenge “, Nomura wrote in a recent report. The Japanese financial company believes that the two countries will buy more American goods, increase investments in the United States, and expand the scope of access to markets to American companies.

As of now, Vietnam has offered the elimination of definitions on US imports, while Cambodia has already had it I cut off A tariff on a group of American products up to 5 %.

But it is unlikely to solve this basic trade imbalance, because these countries do not import many of the United States

Vietnam imported the goods of $ 13.1 billion from the United States last year. In contrast, Vietnam sent $ 136.6 billion in the other direction, more than 10 times what he bought.

Vietnam’s largest purchases from the United States were computers, electronic products, machines and tools, according to Vietnam government data. The country is likely to import these products to support their electronics manufacturing.

In a statement Absolute Late Monday, Hanoi urged the United States to delay the imposition of definitions for at least 45 days to allow time for bilateral negotiations. Prime Minister Vietnam Fam Minh Cennah indicated that the country is ready to increase the purchases related to defense and security, and will also look forward to addressing concerns related to the monetary policy raised by Washington.

Cambodia and Laos, two largely agricultural economists, acquired less than the American Cambodia, imported products worth $ 321.6 million from the United States last year; It is the smallest for LaOS, which only imported products worth only $ 40.4 million from the United States

On the contrary, Cambodia exported the goods worth $ 12.7 billion to the United States, while Laus exported $ 803.3 million.

The major imports of Campodia and Los in the United States are not consumer goods like cars or electronics. Instead, it is fuel and mechanical equipment.

“These economies do not really have a lot of purchasing power,” Samin said. He added that these countries may not need or want what the United States offers – and even if they do so, it may not be “at the price that American producers will be ready for sale.”

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

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2025-04-08 14:05:00