In 2025, Vietnam’s GDP grew by 8%, beating UOB’s forecast of 7.7% but still falling short of the Government’s target of 8.3–8.5%, which would have needed an extraordinary boost in the final quarter.
Trade Counsellor Nguyen Thu Ha stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its Strategic Partnership with Italy and stands ready to expand cooperation in logistics, seaport, trade, and investment.
Negotiations are being conducted based on the principles of openness, constructiveness, equality, respect for each other's independence, self-reliance and political regimes, and shared benefits, with each other’s development levels taken into account.
The bank has also revised Vietnam’s economic growth forecast, raising it to 6.7% in 2025 and adjusting to 6.0% in 2026. Inflation projections are slightly below the previous estimates published in April this year.
Under the deal, about 80% of Indonesia’s exports to the EU will see tariffs eliminated within one to two years after the agreement takes effect. This marks an important step following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement in July that the two sides had reached a 'political agreement' on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Large-scale projects invested by Korean investors in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and energy are poised to give a strong boost to foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam, creating momentum to attract more high-value projects from global investors.
Among the seven countries surveyed by S&P Global in July, Vietnam led with a PMI of 52.4, well above the ASEAN average of 50.1. New export orders rose for the fourth straight month, reaching their fastest growth rate since November 2024.
While Malaysia offered significant trade and investment commitments, it did not compromise on national interests, but maintained equity requirements in strategic sectors and rejected the full liberalisation of sensitive industries, its Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry said.
Foreign investors continued to inject money into Thai equities throughout July, with net inflows exceeding 11 billion THB (about 339 million USD) as the Thai stock market became more attractive due to a weaker US dollar and hopes of a favourable outcome from US-Thai trade negotiations.
Vietnam will remain highly attractive to investors as long as US tariffs on Vietnamese goods do not exceed those imposed on other countries' by more than 10%, according to VinaCapital.
With lead firms (especially in electronics, machinery and auto parts) will reconsider Malaysia’s manufacturing capabilities, long-term capital investment potentially will flow to ASEAN rivals - Vietnam, Indonesia or Thailand.
At an event updating SERT’s activities, Singaporean Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng announced Singaporean government’s Business Adaptation Grant which will be capped at 100,000 SGD (78,000 USD) per company and will have a co-funding element.
The US accounts for 18% of Thailand's exports. If the 36% rate is implemented, exports to the US could fall to 10% of the total, weakening bilateral trade relations over the long term.
The Southeast Asian country has offered to cut import duties on most US goods to zero, expand access for US agricultural and industrial products, and increase purchases of energy and Boeing jets. It also pledged to reduce its 46 billion USD trade surplus with the US by 70% within five years.
The US decided to keep unchanged tariff rates on certain countries in Southeast Asia, such as 32% for Indonesia and 36% for Thailand, effective from August 1. Malaysia faces a 25% rate, up from the 24% that the US threatened in April.
The minister called on the USABC and the US business community continue to support Vietnam in the process of negotiating a reciprocal trade agreement with the US, and coordinate to promote the investment and business potential and opportunities in Vietnam to US partners.
Pichai revealed that actually, Thailand and the US had held unofficial discussions on the matter, and he believed that proposals from his country benefited both sides.
Nazir called for forging closer partnerships with other countries in the world such as China, India, and Japan.
Earlier this month, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that Indonesia could redirect up to 60% of its fuel imports away from Singapore over the next six months as part of a broader diversification strategy.
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN ahead the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia,Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasised that ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs.