Japan and Vietnam Deepen Collaboration on Semiconductors and Clean Energy

As Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba traveled to Hanoi in an attempt to strengthen relations following U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff assault, the two countries decided to expand their collaboration on semiconductors and clean energy.

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's tour of Southeast Asia, where he attempted to represent Beijing as a stable alternative to the United States, Ishiba is visiting the region for four days, including the Philippines.

Mr. Ishiba and Pham Minh Chinh, the prime minister of Vietnam, inked four agreements, including one on bilateral collaboration in the energy transition and another on semiconductor research and development.

Japan has promised to help train some 250 Vietnamese PhD students in the semiconductor industry, according to the sources.

Vietnam has long been seen as a cheap place to produce furniture, shoes, and clothing, but it is now aiming for swiftly moving up the global supply chain and has made computer chips a key component of its growth strategies.

Prior to the trip, Ishiba described Vietnam, the Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia as a "growth center" that is propelling the global economy. However, he also claimed that Trump's tariffs had "major impacts" on these countries and Japanese companies operating in the region.

Even if the U.S. president has suspended his reciprocal duties of 46% and 24% on Vietnam and Japan, respectively, the two nations are still subject to Mr. Trump's 10% levy.