WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Vietnamese leader To Lam has informed him about Hanoi's desire to erase its tariffs on US exports, saying a meeting with the Vietnamese Secretary-General will happen in the "near future."

"Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S." Trump said on his proprietary social media website.

"I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future," he added.

On Wednesday, Trump rolled out his executive order to impose what he calls "reciprocal tariffs" on nations around the world. Tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% were imposed on products the US imports from many of its trading partners, including Vietnam, which received a 46% rate.

The EU was hit with import duties of 20%, China 34%, Taiwan 32%, Japan 24%, India 26%, South Korea 25%, Thailand 36%, Switzerland 31%, Indonesia 32%, Malaysia 24%, Cambodia 49%, South Africa 30%, Bangladesh 30% and Israel 17%.

The announcement has sent global markets in freefall amid concerns that Trump's policy will raise consumer prices at home, and could potentially plunge the US into recession.