The mouse that roared: How Vietnam beat China and India in the export game
Vietnam has emerged as a major global exporter to the United States, surpassing larger economies like China in trade surplus growth. The country's success is attributed to economic reforms, focus on manufacturing, and strategic trade agreements.
Why it matters
Vietnam's rapid economic ascent provides a case study for developing nations on how to integrate into global supply chains.
The TOI correspondent from Washington: There is still hope yet for US-Iran ties.Some 50 years after the fall of Saigon, America’s former enemy has achieved a distinction that would have seemed like satire in the 60s and 70s. Vietnam has now run up the biggest trade surplus with the United States -- $ 114 billion in just the first half of 2026 -- ahead of giants such as China, Mexico, and Taiwan, according to the Wall Street Journal. In 2025, Vietnam ranked third after China ($ 202 billion and Mexico ($ 197 billion), but it is now on track to be the world’s top exporter to the US.It is a remarkable transformation for a country of 100 million people which was battered by the US and has long lived in the shadow of China’s 14x population and 40x economy ($20 trillion v $500 billion).
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