Ted Osius, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and former US Ambassador to Vietnam, has raised concerns about the potential for new tariffs on Vietnamese goods under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press conference during a US business delegation's visit to Vietnam from March 18-20, Mr. Osius emphasized that the risk of tariffs remains a genuine issue, as Vietnam currently holds the third-largest trade surplus with the United States globally.

Mr. Osius urged the Vietnamese Government to increase imports from the US, specifically highlighting liquefied natural gas (LNG), civil and military aircraft, and agricultural products such as soybeans, fruits, and value-added nuts.

He also recommended that Vietnam tighten controls on goods transiting through the country to prevent fraudulent origin labeling and called for enhanced cooperation with US agencies in trade-related activities.

The USABC-organized visit coincided with Vietnam’s re-evaluation of taxes on US goods, including LNG and high-tech products, and followed President Trump’s threats to impose additional tariffs on trade partners.

The delegation, comprising senior executives from 58 leading American companies, aimed to support Vietnam’s transition to a new phase of economic growth.

The delegation represented sectors where the US holds global leadership, including information technology, financial services, logistics, manufacturing, energy, aerospace and defense, healthcare, consumer products, food, and agriculture. Notable participants included major corporations such as Apple, Intel, Coca-Cola, Nike, Boeing, Amazon, Exxon Mobil, JPMorgan, Visa, and Meta.