U.S., Vietnam agree on trade during Biden visit

President Joe Biden was in Hanoi on Sunday to discuss trade with Vietnamese leaders. Vietnam is elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status alongside Russia and China. The agreement emphasizes cooperation on the trade of materials and goods, such as rare earth minerals and semiconductors. Biden flew to Vietnam after several days in India for the Group of 20 economic summit. 

What is driving the agreement? The Biden administration is working to counter Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific region. But the president told reporters that he does not want to contain China, only to build strong relations throughout the region. Republican White House hopeful Nikki Haley on Sunday accused Biden of being too soft on the communist rival. She said Beijing views Washington as an enemy and has been gearing up for war with the United States for years.

Dig deeper: Read Mark Tooley’s column for WORLD Opinions about a joint defense agreement between the United States, Japan, and South Korea.