Beijing on U.S.-Vietnam Deal: 'Don’t Harm Third Parties'

China has stated that trade agreements between the US and other countries should not be designed to target or negatively impact third nations. The comment follows a new trade deal announced between the United States and Vietnam earlier this week.

On Wednesday, U.S.President Donald Trump announced that a new trade agreement had been reached with Vietnam following discussions with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Under the deal, Washington will impose a 20% tariff on goods directly imported from Hanoi and a 40% tariff on transshipped products passing through the Southeast Asian country.

In exchange, U.S. exports to Vietnam will enter the country tariff-free. Trump hailed the agreement as a "Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries" in a post on Truth Social.

Commenting on the development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a live-streamed press briefing in Beijing, “China believes that trade disputes should be resolved through equal consultation, and that bilateral agreements must not target or harm the interests of any third party.”

Trump had previously imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports, which was paused pending the expiration of a 90-day deadline on 9 July.

The agreement gives the U.S. full access to Vietnamese markets. Trump added that American-made SUVs, or "Large Engine Vehicles," could perform well in Vietnam and would be a valuable addition to the country’s product offering.

Beijing’s concerns come amid heightened U.S. influence in Southeast Asia, as China seeks to maintain its strategic and economic presence in the region.

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