Trade deals with US should not hurt 3rd nations, says China on Vietnam pact

China on Thursday said any bilateral trade pact with the US should not target third nations.

Beijing's reaction came after the US reached a trade deal with China's southern neighbor, Vietnam, on Wednesday, with Washington reducing tariffs on Hanoi to 20% and 40% on products shipped through the Southeast Asian nation.

China always believes parties should solve trade disputes through equal consultation, and relevant treaties should not target or hurt any third party, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a live-streamed news conference in Beijing.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the US reached a trade deal with Vietnam after speaking to To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

"It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries," Trump posted on Truth Social. "The Terms are that Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% Tariff on any and all goods sent into our Territory, and a 40% Tariff on any Transshipping.”

Trump had imposed on Vietnam staggering 46% tariffs, which were paused before his 90-day deadline ends on July 9.

The US will have "total access" to Vietnam's markets for trade, he said. "We will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff."

"It is my opinion that the SUV or, as it is sometimes referred to, Large Engine Vehicle, which does so well in the United States, will be a wonderful addition to the various product lines within Vietnam," he added.