AsianFin -- Vietnam’s imports from China and exports to the United States surged to their highest levels since the pandemic in April, as the Southeast Asian nation steps up efforts to curb illegal trade practices and ease tensions with Washington over its growing trade surplus.

The spike in trade comes as Hanoi holds talks with U.S. officials to avoid sweeping tariff increases, including a proposed 46% duty on Vietnamese exports once a global tariff pause expires in July. Such a move could pose a major threat to Vietnam’s export-driven growth model and disrupt supply chains for global manufacturers such as Samsung and Nike.

In a bid to sidestep steep penalties, Vietnamese authorities have pledged to crack down on the transshipment of Chinese goods labeled as "Made in Vietnam" to bypass U.S. tariffs. The practice has come under increased scrutiny amid Washington’s push to close loopholes that undermine its trade enforcement efforts.