Biden cannot butter the bread on both sides regarding Vietnam

US President Joe Biden always boasts that his diplomacy with Vietnam is a "highlight" of his foreign policy. The US Department of Commerce held a public hearing on whether to recognize Vietnam's "market economy status" on Wednesday. It will complete the review and make a final decision on that before July 26.

But the heated discussions at the hearing demonstrate that Biden's attempts to court Vietnam as a strategic ally conflict with his desire to secure the votes of union workers.

During Biden's visit to the Southeast Asian country last year, he announced that the US-Vietnam relationship would be upgraded to a "comprehensive strategic partnership". Later, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called Vietnam a "friendly" investment destination, and declared that the country is a suitable supply chain alternative for the US.