As trade tensions escalate with Washington, Vietnam has enlisted the help of two politically connected US firms—Crowell Global Advisors and Tactic Global—to manage its response to the Trump administration’s proposed 46 percent tariff on Vietnamese imports, O’Dwyer PR has reported.
Key details in the article include:
- Crowell Global Advisors hired at US$15,000/month, contract signed May 5.
- Tactic Global hired for US$5,000/month, focused on political access.
- Crowell Global will advise Vietnam on international trade and investment policy, led by Joseph Damond.
- Tactic Global, run by Barry Bennett, a former Trump advisor, is tasked with facilitating meetings between Vietnamese officials and Trump-aligned political figures.
- Republican operatives Ryan Coyne and Caroline Wren are managing the Vietnam portfolio at Tactic.
By hiring firms with direct ties to Trump-era operatives, Vietnam looks to be incorporating political lobbying as a tool to mitigate looming trade penalties. This further accentuates the blurred lines between policy, influence, and diplomacy in the current US-Vietnam trade landscape.
See also: What’s Next for Vietnam if Trump’s 46 Percent Tariff is Here To Stay?