Southeast Asia nations, hit particularly hard by US tariffs, prep for talks with Trump

*

Six Southeast Asian nations hit with tariffs between 32% and 49%

*

Vietnam's exports to US account for almost 30% of GDP

*

Thailand hopeful that talks will bring down its 37% tariffs

*

So far, none have said they plan retaliatory tariffs

By Francesco Guarascio and Orathai Sriring

HANOI/BANGKOK, April 3 (Reuters) - Vietnam's government said on Thursday it would set up a task force and other Southeast Asian nations said they plan to seek talks with Washington as they reel from being hit with some of U.S. President Donald Trump's heftiest tariffs.

Countries such as Vietnam and Thailand are heavy exporters to the U.S., having benefited as Chinese and international manufacturers shifted production to their economies to avoid levies on China that Trump imposed during his first term.

Six of the nine Southeast Asian countries listed by Trump were slapped with much bigger-than-expected tariffs of between 32% and 49%. By comparison, the level for the European Union was 20%.

So far, none of the Southeast Asian nations have spoken of retaliatory tariffs.

Vietnam, where companies like Apple ( AAPL ), Nike ( NKE ) and Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF ) have large manufacturing operations, was hit with 46% levies and appears particularly exposed. Its exports to the United States were worth $142 billion last year, nearly 30% of its gross domestic product.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered up a task force to address the situation after an urgent cabinet meeting early on Thursday, state media said. He noted the country's 8% growth target for this year remained unchanged.

"Vietnam's export-driven growth model has been highly successful, attracting multinational companies ... However, a 46% U.S. tariff would directly challenge this model," said Leif Schneider, head of international law firm Luther in Vietnam.

Vietnam has already made multiple concessions to Washington to avoid tariffs, and is likely to offer more in the coming days.

"I expect negotiations to continue on ways to reduce or mitigate the impact of any new tariffs," said Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she hopes to bring down the 37% rate imposed on Thailand - far greater than the 11% it had expected.

"We have to negotiate and get into details," she said. "We can't let it get to where we miss our GDP target."

Thai economic growth has lagged regional peers, growing at 2.5% last year, held back by soaring household debt. It is hoping for 3% growth this year.

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said his government was prepared for negotiations and had high hopes they would go well, citing Thailand's good relations with the U.S.

Malaysia, which was dealt a rate of 24%, announced it would not seek retaliatory tariffs and it said the trade ministry would be actively engaging with U.S. authorities "to seek solutions that will uphold the spirit of free and fair trade."

Cambodia is facing tariffs of 49% that will hurt its garment and footwear industries and crushing hopes that it could attract investment relocating from other countries in the region.

It is a "very, very serious situation for the economy," said a Cambodia-based investment consultant who declined to be identified.

There is "nothing that Cambodia can offer as a negotiating tool, and will be at the back of a very long queue," he added.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Hanoi, Orathai Sriring in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Ashley Tang in Kuala Lumpur; Writing by Francesco Guarascio and Kay Johnson; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)