Tech Tensions Tighten: U.S. Presses Vietnam to Curb Chinese Content
The United States is intensifying pressure on Vietnam to reduce the use of Chinese components in its technology exports to America, according to sources familiar with the matter. During the recently concluded third round of tariff negotiations, Washington strongly raised this demand, reports Reuters.
Although major U.S. tech giants such as Apple, Samsung, Meta, and Google have significantly expanded their manufacturing footprint in Vietnam, much of their supply chain still depends on Chinese inputs. The U.S. aims to lessen this dependency in order to decouple from Chinese technology and simultaneously enhance Vietnam’s industrial capacity.
While Vietnam has expressed some willingness to cooperate, local business representatives have indicated that such a transformation is not feasible without substantial technological advancement and time. Last year alone, Vietnam imported nearly $44 billion worth of Chinese technology goods—including electronic components, computers, and mobile devices—accounting for approximately 30% of its total imports.
Another concern for the U.S. is the misuse of the “Made in Vietnam” label for re-exporting Chinese-origin products. Although the recent negotiations yielded some progress, fundamental disagreements still remain unresolved.
Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, is reportedly preparing to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in late June—a move that may signal Vietnam’s readiness to navigate its delicate economic and strategic ties with both Washington and Beijing.
