Vietnam Trade Ministry: Vietnam, US hold round of trade negotiations online Thursday night

Vietnam Trade Ministry: Vietnam, US hold round of trade negotiations online Thursday night

In a significant step forward in bilateral trade relations, Vietnam and the United States have concluded the third round of technical negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement, marking substantial progress and narrowing gaps across all areas. The negotiations, held online on Thursday night, were led by the Vietnamese delegation headed by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and the U.S. team headed by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The four-day talks, originally scheduled from June 9 to 12 in Washington, D.C., were shifted online due to the ongoing global health situation. The discussions were characterized by frank and constructive exchanges, with both sides working towards mutually agreeable solutions. The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the negotiations had made substantial headway by reducing divergences in every discussion area.

During the final working session, Minister Dien engaged simultaneously with Greer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, marking the first U.S. proposed ministerial level dialogue in this format. Minister Dien introduced several initiatives to accelerate the negotiation process and achieve concrete results, which were praised by Lutnick and Greer.

Following the session, Minister Dien held a separate meeting with Secretary Lutnick, where the latter reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its relationship with Vietnam and expressed support for Vietnam’s continued development. Lutnick acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, stating he would coordinate with the U.S. Trade Representative to explore suitable solutions.

Minister Dien reiterated Vietnam’s resolve to forge a balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial economic partnership with the U.S. Both sides tasked their technical teams with working towards an agreement aligned with each country’s expectations and requirements.

These bilateral negotiations follow two technical rounds held last month and were launched after the U.S. administration announced a 46-percent reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese imports on April 3. The tariff implementation was postponed for 90 days to allow time for negotiations.

The next steps in the negotiation process will include a virtual meeting to address remaining issues and prepare for an upcoming online session between U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Minister Dien.

[1] https://news.tuoitre.vn/third-round-of-vietnam-us-trade-talks-sees-significant-progress-ministry-103250616144833549.htm