Tariffs may grab headlines, but it’s the unseen frictions—cultural, regulatory, and geopolitical—that shape the true contours of global trade. Vietnam’s role between the U.S. and China isn’t just economic; it’s a strategic echo of history. As open economic warfare unfolds, the real action may lie in the silent battlegrounds of non-tariff barriers—subtle, evolving, and anything but neutral.

China's ascent to economic power has been no mere coincidence. Their astute recognition of capitalism's weaknesses and their ability to harness them has placed them at the forefront of the global stage.