Vietnam’s U.S. Exports Account For 30% Of GDP, Making It Vulnerable To Tariffs

Vietnam's goods exports to the United States accounted for 30% of its gross domestic product (GDP) last year, the highest share among the U.S.'s top trade partners, according to a Reuters review of public data.

U.S. companies such as Apple, chipmaker Intel, and footwear and apparel giant Nike have established production hubs in the country, exporting goods primarily to the United States.

This makes the country highly vulnerable to reciprocal tariffs, Francisco Guarascio reported for Reuters.

The Southeast Asian nation saw a surge in foreign investment after the first Trump administration launched a trade war with Beijing in 2018. Many multinational corporations moved their factories from China to Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs.

Vietnam now hosts major operations of South Korea's Samsung Electronics and Taiwan's contract manufacturer Foxconn.

U.S. companies such as Apple, chipmaker Intel, and footwear and apparel giant Nike have also established production hubs in the country, exporting goods primarily to the United States.

The massive influx of manufacturing investment has turned the Communist-run nation into a key player in global supply chains, significantly strengthening its economic ties with the U.S.

According to Vietnamese customs data, 29% of Vietnam's total exports are now directed to the United States.

In 2024, Vietnam exported goods worth $142.4 billion to the U.S., making it the sixth-largest exporter to the country, following Mexico, China, Canada, Germany, and Japan, according to UN commodity trade statistics.