In the recent trade agreement between Vietnam and the United States, import-export tariffs have been reduced to 20%. While this development appears favorable, it hasn't alleviated concerns for K.T. Huang, Executive Director of the textile conglomerate Everest Textile.

At a press conference on the 3rd, Huang acknowledged that while the tariff reduction provides some financial relief for businesses, restructured profit distribution between brands and supply chains remains a critical challenge. "When tariffs reach or exceed 20%, the reallocation of supply chain profits becomes particularly significant," Huang explained. "Only when tariffs fall below 10% can brands and suppliers realistically share these costs."

Everest Textile, which reported annual revenues exceeding $300 million last year, possesses sufficient scale and bargaining power to mitigate tariff impacts. However, Huang noted that only Vietnam's rates have been finalized so far, requiring close monitoring of ongoing U.S. trade negotiations with other nations to inform business decisions.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Taiwan-based company maintains its R&D headquarters domestically while expanding global production networks. Its strategic footprint now spans Southeast Asia, Cambodia, the United States, Vietnam, and Kenya—a deliberate diversification Huang believes will strengthen resilience across the textile ecosystem.

This multinational approach, coupled with Everest's emphasis on collaborative governance culture, reflects its long-term commitment to sustainable operations amid fluctuating trade policies. As Huang concluded: "True stability comes from adaptive systems, not temporary advantages."