This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batch from Vietnam. I welcome Jack Burnham of the Foundation for

Defense of Democracy reporting on Vietnam and a trade deal that looks extremely positive for the

United States and Vietnam. Jack, a very good evening to you. 20%. That's double the 10% that's

being bandied about is going to be mandated around the world. But Vietnam has signed on to this.

I'm following your reporting. Why? What is the advantage for Vietnam and what is the advantage

for the U.S.? Good evening to you.

Thank you for having me. This deal, I would certainly argue, was a win-win for both the

United States in Vietnam. From the Vietnamese perspective, there was a lot of intense

negotiation with the Trump administration. Certainly a push to maintain market access and simply put the 20% tariff

that was agreed to gives Vietnam enough market access so it can continue to grow its

increasingly export-oriented economy and gain access to one of the most vibrant markets

in the world, the United States.

From the American perspective, I think there was a concern of to one of the most vibrant markets in the world, the United States.

From the American perspective, I think there was a concern of unfair trade practices.

Vietnam has been the subject of multiple trade investigations over the years from allegations of dumping and currency manipulation.

So I certainly think the Trump administration was concerned about some of those things.

And so as a result, I think that's why there was a push for that 20% tariff rather than that 10% tariff that's been bandied about for other allies and partners.

No tariffs whatsoever on imports from the U.S. Did that exist before or was there various

numbers? There were there various numbers?

There were some various numbers. The Vietnamese, actually, when Trump first suggested putting tariffs on Vietnam, Vietnam came out very aggressively to suggest removing all

tariff barriers on American goods.

And that was a result of the Vietnamese leadership recognizing the importance of the American market for economic development.

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