Vietnam Leader Warns Trade Wars Lead to Poverty in Dig at Trump

Vietnam President Luong Cuong forcefully warned of the dangers of a world with higher tariffs, one of the strongest criticisms so far of US President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to trade as world leaders gather this week in Peru.

“Isolationists, protectionism and trade wars lead only to recession, conflict and poverty,” Cuong told government and business leaders gathered at the APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, on Thursday.

Luong Cuong

Photographer: Manuel Orbegozo/Bloomberg

“Now more than ever it’s critical to transcend the zero-sum game mindset and guard against nationalism skewing policy decisions,” said Cuong, who was named last month as Vietnam’s president. “Every country, regardless ...