When Vietnam’s prime minister visits the White House as early as next week, he will probably push for a free trade deal with the United States. That agreement would mean gold to Vietnam, where the fast-growing economy depends on shipments of manufactured exports to developed countries. That agreement would cover the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, which include Vietnam, as well as India, Japan and South Korea. But China has more credibility lately because its leadership is talking to Vietnam proactively on things that matter to it. Its trade deal concept for ASEAN would probably put still developing Vietnam at ease by omitting some of the TPP’s clauses that favor labor, clean air and reforms of state-owned companies.

Source: Forbes May 22, 2017 21:56 UTC