The US has increased its tariffs on cement imported from Vietnam to 20 %, effective Aug. 1, a move which is expected to significantly alter trade flows as the Southeast Asian country is the second-largest supplier to the US, just behind Turkey, according to industry participants and a White House statement July 31.
The jump in tariffs from the previous 10% could reshape the cost structure of US cement imports. While importers had absorbed the earlier rate, the new 20% level is expected to be passed downstream to end-users, participants said. Vietnamese producers would have to pass that cost on, and prices will likely rise.
Still, selling into the US remains a priority for Vietnamese exporters.
