This chapter highlights the contrasting ways in which Indonesia and Viet Nam interpret and frame these challenges despite both nations sharing a post-colonial context. In comparing Indonesia and Viet Nam, this chapter reveals how two countries, faced with similar political challenges in their trade relations with the EU, arrive at markedly different interpretations and framings of these issues. A key finding is that while both countries confront similar issues, their interpretations are shaped by divergent national identities and historical experiences. The chapter emphasises that the institutionalisation of colonialism plays a significant role in these differing interpretations. In Indonesia, the legacy of colonialism fosters a deep sense of economic nationalism and suspicion towards foreign intervention, leading the EU to be framed as a predatory actor with neo-colonial ambitions. By contrast, while also shaped by its colonial past, Viet Nam views the EU more strategically, interpreting it as a potentially benevolent partner in its efforts to diversify trade and reduce reliance on larger powers like China. This comparative analysis underscores how the institutionalised effects of colonialism influence not just the issues themselves but how they are perceived and framed in each country. The chapter demonstrates that colonial legacies, while shared, are interpreted through different national lenses, resulting in distinct perceptions of the EU as either a predatory or benevolent force in trade relations.