On 2 April 2025, President D. Trump officially signed and announced an Executive Order imposing a reciprocal tariff on all goods imported into the United States from all of its trading partners.

On 31 July 2025, Executive Order amending the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of 2 April 2025, applicable to all goods imported into the United States from all of its trading partners was announced.

Below is a summary of the key elements of the Executive Orders.

1. Reciprocal tariff rates

According to the Executive Orders, the United States plans to apply reciprocal tariffs as an additional duty, levied on top of existing tariffs, fees, and other charges currently imposed on imported goods.

The applicable reciprocal tariff rates and their effective dates are as follows:

(i) Country-specific reciprocal tariff rates applied to all goods (except for the exemptions set out in Section 2) imported from 68 trading partners (listed in the table below), effective from 7 August 2025 (subject to further adjustment based on negotiation outcomes after the issuance of Executive Order on 31 July 2025).

Compared with the Executive Order of 2 April 2025, the Executive Order of 31 July 2025 adds 11 additional trading partners to the list of countries subject to country-specific reciprocal tariff rates.

Note: The new tariff rates take effect from 7 August 2025. However, goods that were loaded onto vessels for shipment prior to this date and are imported/withdrawn for consumption before 5 October 2025 will not be subject to the new reciprocal tariff rates; instead, the previous rates under the Executive Order of 2 April 2025 will continue to apply.

(ii) A reciprocal tariff rate of 10% applied to all goods (except for the exemptions set out in Section 2) from all remaining trading partners (i.e. those other than the 68 partners listed in the table below), effective from 7 August 2025.

Table: U.S. reciprocal tariff rates applied to selected trading partners 

Source: Compiled from Annex I to the Executive Order of 2 April 2025 and Annex I to the Executive Order of 31 July 2025

Note: Under the Executive Order of 2 April 2025, the United States initially set a reciprocal tariff rate of 34% on imports from China. However, following a series of retaliatory measures taken by China, President D. Trump announced an increase in the reciprocal tariff on China to 125%, effective from 9 April 2025.
Pursuant to the Joint Statement on the U.S.–China Economic and Trade Meeting of 12 May 2025, the United States subsequently adjusted the reciprocal tariff rate on China back to 34%. Nevertheless, for the next 90 days, the United States will apply a reciprocal tariff of only 10% to imports from China. At the end of the 90-day period, if no further agreement is reached between the two parties, the U.S. reciprocal tariff rate of 34% on China will be reinstated. On August 11, 2025, the United States extended the suspension of tariffs on Chinese goods for an additional 90 days, until November 10, 2025. On November 1, 2025, the United States and China reached a Trade and Economic Deal, under which the United States will maintain a 10% reciprocal tariff on China until November 10, 2026.

2. Products subject to the reciprocal tariff and exemptions

According to the Executive Order of 2 April 2025, the reciprocal tariff will be applied by the United States to all imported goods, except for the following categories:

(i) Goods specifically listed in Annex II to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of 2 April 2025, comprising a total of 1,039 tariff lines (specified in detail at the 8-digit HS level under the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule – HTSUS), including certain pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, raw timber, critical minerals, and energy products.

Note: Annex II has been updated twice by Executive Orders dated 5 September 2025 and 14 November 2025. As a result, certain agricultural and food products, including some meat products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, tea, coffee, and others, have been added to the list of products exempted from the reciprocal tariff.

The lists of products exempted from the reciprocal tariff pursuant to Annex II of the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of 2 April 2025, and its two subsequent updates under the Executive Orders of September 5, 2025 and November 14, 2025, are attached to this document.

(ii) Products that are subject to separate tariff regimes, including:

(iii) Products included in the list titled “Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners” set out in the Annex to the Executive Order of 5 September 2025, applicable to partners that have concluded a trade agreement with the United States;

(iv) All articles that are encompassed by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b), including products related to national security;

(v) All articles from trading partners subject to the rates set forth in Column 2 of of the HTSUS.

In addition, on 13 April 2025, the United States announced that smartphones, computers, and certain other electronic devices would not be subject to the reciprocal tariff; instead, they will be subject to separate tariff measures expected to be applied in the future.

Note: Under the Executive Order amending the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of  July 31, 2025, exemptions from the reciprocal tariff will continue to apply in accordance with the Executive Order of 2 April 2025.

It can be seen that many of Viet Nam’s key export products to the United States (such as footwear, textiles and garments, and seafood) are not included in the list of reciprocal tariff exemptions. Accordingly, these sectors are expected to be significantly affected by the U.S. reciprocal tariff.

3. Reciprocal tariff rates applicable to transshipped goods

Under the Executive Order of 31 July 2025, goods imported into the United States that are determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to have been transshipped for the purpose of evading country-specific reciprocal tariff rates will be subject to significantly higher duties and penalties, specifically:

- A reciprocal tariff rate of 40%, in lieu of the country-specific tariff rate applicable to goods originating from the countries listed in the table above;

- Any other applicable or appropriate fine or penalty;

- Any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, or charges applicable to goods of the country of origin.

CBP shall not allow, consistent with applicable law, for mitigation or remission of the penalties assessed on imports found to be transshipped to evade applicable duties.  

The United States shall publish every 6 months a list of countries and specific facilities used in circumvention schemes, to inform public procurement, national security reviews, and commercial due diligence.

Further details on the U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of 2 April 2025 can be found at the following link:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

Further details on the U.S. Executive Order further modifying the reciprocal tariff rates of 31 July 2025 can be found at the following link:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates/

Compiled by the Center for WTO and International Trade – VCCI

• List of products exempted from the reciprocal tariff (as updated by the Executive Order of November 14, 2025)
• List of products exempted from the reciprocal tariff (as updated by the Executive Order of September 5, 2025)
• List of products exempted from the reciprocal tariff pursuant to Annex II to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order of 2 April 2025

• The US' tariff measures during President Trump's second term: A Timeline
• Summary of the US' tariff measures imposed on aluminum and steel
• Summary of the US' tariff measures applied to China (since 2018)