The April 3 announcement that the Trump administration will impose 46 per cent “reciprocal tariffs” on Vietnam from April 9 was completely unexpected. Michael Kokalari, chief economist from VinaCapital, analyses the impact and potential solutions Vietnam should take.

Việt Nam should continue bilateral negotiations with the US administration on major export commodities while guiding businesses in diversifying markets, attracting more US investments, and increasing purchases of goods from the US, an analyst has said.

Southeast Asian nations reeled on Thursday as they were hit with some of President Donald Trump's heftiest tariffs, which now threaten the economies that have benefited from investment since he imposed levies on China during his first term.

In response to US' announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" on all its trade partners, China's commerce ministry (MOFCOM) said on Thursday that China strongly opposes the move and will firmly take countermeasures to safeguard its own interests.

Malaysia, as the Asean chair this year, will prioritise the importance of deepening regional economic ties following the announcement of sweeping US tariffs on the bloc’s member nations as well as leading them in engaging Washington in talks to potentially reduce retaliatory tariffs on imports into America.

China on Thursday urged the US to immediately cancel its latest tariffs and vowed countermeasures to safeguard its own interests, after President Donald Trump declared sweeping levies on US trading partners around the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to respond to US President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs on the European Union (EU) by urging businesses in the world’s largest trading bloc to halt spending on the US.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has sent a diplomatic note requesting US authorities delay the tariff imposition to allow for constructive dialogue to seek a reasonable solution for both sides.

The tiny southern African kingdom of Lesotho has been hit with a 50% reciprocal trade tariff by US President Donald Trump, the highest levy of any single state on his long list of target economies.

In the wake of the US' fresh announcement of a 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Department of Foreign Market Development Ta Hoang Linh remains optimistic about the potential for negotiations to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.