Well, would you look at that—tariffs do work. Who could’ve guessed? (Oh wait, President Trump did.) In yet another case study of Trumpian leverage 101, Vietnam blinked—hard—after Trump slapped a hefty 46% tariff on their exports to the U.S. Just hours after the announcement, Hanoi came running to the negotiating table like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
According to President Trump, after what he called a “very productive call” with Vietnam’s Communist Party boss To Lam, the Vietnamese are now eager to slash their tariffs all the way to zero—if they can reach a deal with the U.S. In other words, they’re ready to play ball because, surprise surprise, they don’t want to lose access to the biggest consumer market on the planet. This is what happens when you stop apologizing for America’s strength and start using it.
Vietnam has BENT THE KNEE. pic.twitter.com/NDdUTuGvfM
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 4, 2025
Trump posted on Truth Social that Lam told him Vietnam wants to cut tariffs down to zero. The media’s busy panicking about “protectionism” again, but guess what? It’s protecting American jobs and forcing foreign powers to finally deal with us fairly. Imagine that.
Now, sure, Nike freaked out at first. Their stock tanked 14% after the tariff hike, because roughly half their shoes and a quarter of their clothing are churned out of Vietnamese factories. But when the news broke that Vietnam was open to a zero-tariff deal? Boom—Nike shares bounced right back up over 4%. That’s the market’s way of saying, “Okay, Trump might know what he’s doing here.”
This isn’t some rogue move—it’s classic Trump. Hit hard, negotiate later. And while the D.C. establishment clutches their pearls, the rest of the world is taking notes. Just last month, Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. China threw a tantrum and slapped duties on our soybeans and pork, but that’s the price of standing up to a regime that’s been ripping us off for decades.
Vietnam, on the other hand, is playing it smart. They know their entire economy is increasingly tied to U.S. demand. They’re the 8th largest supplier of goods to the U.S., with over $120 billion in exports last year—mostly shoes, clothing, electronics, and furniture. Big brands like Samsung, Adidas, and yes, Nike, are all hooked on cheap Vietnamese labor. Vietnam isn’t just a player anymore—they’re a keystone in the anti-China supply chain.
So when Trump sends an economic shockwave their way, Hanoi doesn’t posture—they negotiate. And that’s how you get results. Not with globalist think-tank chatter or polite trade summits, but with tariffs that sting and deals that win.
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