Vietnam Posts Record Trade Deficit as US Renews Tariff Risks (1)

Vietnam’s trade deficit widened to a record high as imports surged on rising global raw material prices, while exporters braced for potential new US tariffs.

The deficit in May rose to $5.21 billion, according to data released by the National Statistics Office in Hanoi Wednesday. That was well above the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey for a $3.98 billion shortfall, as well as the revised $3.99 billion deficit reported for April.

Vietnam’s exports jumped 18% in May, the statistics office said, slower than economists’ forecast of 19.7% growth. Imports were higher than expected at 33.8%.

The widening ...