The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has caused Vietnam to look for new trade deals. Vietnam wants to support exports to keep its economy strong if the U.S. Congress fails to approve the planned U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership. President-elect Trump also has been highly critical of the trade deal, known as the TPP. Now, Vietnamese officials are taking steps to keep their country’s factories from being hurt if the TPP is not put in place. Vietnam’s economy has been dependent on the export of manufactured goods since the 1980s. Last year, Vietnam’s economy grew 6.7 percent. Because the future of the TPP is unclear, observers say, Vietnamese trade officials are seeking markets for their country’s manufactured goods. These markets include China, Russia and the European Union.