Vietnam breaks ground for Trump luxury golf resort
A family firm of US President Donald Trump has started developing a luxury golf resort in Vietnam. Hanoi may be hoping for special treatment from Washington amid the threat of high tariffs from the Trump administration.
Trump's son Eric, who is Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, together with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Hung Yen province near the capital Hanoi on Wednesday. Their plans are for an upscale golf resort, worth about 1.5 billion dollars.
Chinh said, "This project will contribute to promoting Vietnam-US relations to go deeper and become more substantial and effective." He welcomed the venture and urged local authorities to give it maximum support.
The US's trade deficit with Vietnam is its third largest after those with China and Mexico. Vietnam had been bracing for a 46 percent tariff before it was put on hold.
A US civic group has slammed the resort development, saying it illustrates how Trump's administration takes advantage of foreign governments to gain special treatment for his business.
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