Vietnam concluded with France deals for (at least) $ 10 billion during Macron’s visit

France and Vietnam signed on Monday Airbus aircraft, defense and other pacts worth over $ 10 billion, while President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi, trying to strengthen France’s influence in her former colony against the backdrop of the risks of high US duties.

Macron’s first official visit to Vietnam, the first French president of nearly a decade, follows the threats of US President Donald Trump on Friday to impose 50% duties on EU goods from June 1, which nourished tensions with the 27 -country block, although he later postponed this deadline until July 9.

Vietnam, dependent on exports, under pressure from Washington to buy more American goods, made promises in trade negotiations to try to avoid 46% duties that could harm its growth, which ignites Europe’s concerns that it will be transactions on her account.

Macron said France has signed contracts worth 9 billion euros ($ 10.25 billion) in Vietnam during his visit.

The transactions covered the purchase of 20 Airbus aircraft, cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, defense, rail and maritime transport, Earth monitoring satellites and Sanofi vaccines, shows a list of documents seen by Reuters confirming an earlier report.

A total of 14 deals have been signed, which is less than the dozens that the French Presidential Palace said they were in the process of preparing before the visit, but more agreements are expected to be announced on Tuesday, an employee said.

In statements to the press, without allowing questions, Macron confirmed France’s support for freedom of shipping, a matter important to Vietnam, as he often faces Beijing because of contested boundaries in the South China Sea.

Macron added that partnership with Vietnam « implies increased defense cooperation, » citing the signing of numerous defense and space projects.

Vietnam President Luonong Kung said that the defense partnership includes « sharing information on strategic issues » and stronger cooperation in the defense industry, cybersecurity and the fight against terrorism.

Reuters

France ruled the country for about 70 years until it was forced to withdraw in 1954 after a major defeat at Dien Bien Fu in North Vietnam. The links have improved in recent decades, raising the highest level in Vietnam last year.

During his trip, the first stage of a tour of Southeast Asia, which included Indonesia and Singapore, Macron met with Vietnamese leaders and will visit a university in Hanoi on Tuesday before flying to Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

On his arrival in Hanoi on Sunday night, Macron Brigitte’s wife seemed to pushed him in the face while they were still on the plane, showed a video, in an incident that the Elysee Palace presented as « a moment of closeness. »

Planes, satellites

The deal with the European Airbus aircraft manufacturer for the low -cost airline of Vietnam Vietjet for the purchase of 20 widespread aircraft A330neo follows last year’s agreement for 20 aircraft.

Companies did not announce the value of the transaction or aircraft delivery schedule.

The signing followed calls from European representatives in recent weeks to Vietnam to be careful about the discounts made in front of the White House, two employees based in Vietnam told Reuters, familiar with discussions, citing concerns about Airbus.

Airbus is the main supplier of aircraft for Vietnam, but with an economy, highly dependent on US exports, Vietnamese representatives have signaled a possible purchase of at least 250 Boeing aircraft from the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and competitor Vietjet. The aim is to reduce the huge trade surplus of the country with the United States and possibly calm Trump.

Airbus Defense and Space signed a separate statement of intentions with Vietnam on satellites.

The company has long been negotiating with Hanoi about the replacement of the Vietnamese Earth observation satellite built by Airbus Eads predecessor and launched in 2013. The new pact includes a « survey of a future program, » Airbus said.

During the visit, the French transport company CMA CGM said it had signed an agreement with Saigon Newport to build a deep -sea container terminal in North Vietnam by 2028 for a joint investment worth $ 600 million.