U.S. President Donald Trump said on 2 July that Washington will impose a 20 percent tariff on a broad range of Vietnamese exports and a 40 percent duty on goods it judges to have been trans-shipped through Vietnam. The levies, lower than the 46 percent rate threatened in April, form the core of a preliminary U.S.–Vietnam trade deal that also pledges duty-free access for selected American products. China’s Commerce Ministry responded on 3 July, saying it is "conducting an assessment" of the agreement and will "resolutely safeguard" its legitimate interests if the pact harms Chinese companies. Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian warned that trade deals "should not be reached at the expense of China," signalling possible retaliation should the new U.S. measures restrict Chinese exporters that rely on assembly hubs in Vietnam. Separately, Beijing confirmed on 4 July that the United States has informed it of the removal of several export restrictions, including curbs on jet-engine components and certain electronic-design-automation tools, in line with a "hard-won" framework settled during London talks in June. The ministry welcomed the step but urged Washington to "continue to correct wrong practices" and deepen dialogue. The combination of fresh tariffs on Vietnam and limited U.S. concessions to China underlines the fragility of the current trade truce between the world’s two largest economies. China’s share of U.S. goods imports has slipped to roughly 7 percent as manufacturers divert production to Southeast Asia, with Vietnam taking a growing slice. By targeting trans-shipment, Washington hopes to close loopholes but risks reigniting tensions with Beijing even as it seeks incremental cooperation on technology exports.