US calls virtual meeting with Vietnam's trade minister 'productive'

Greer’s remarks were included in a press release issued on Thursday by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, one day after the meeting, which marked the official start of negotiations aimed at addressing the 46-percent tariff the U.S. has imposed on Vietnamese imports under its broader reciprocal trade policy.

Originally scheduled to take effect on April 9, the tariff was delayed for 90 days by the U.S. administration to give both countries time to find a resolution.

Vietnam is among the countries facing the steepest reciprocal tariffs, part of a policy targeting nations with large trade surpluses with the U.S..

Minister Dien leads the Vietnamese negotiating team, appointed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while Greer heads the U.S. delegation.

During the call, Greer outlined the next steps following U.S. President Donald Trump’s phone conversation with Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam on April 4 during which Lam expressed Vietnam’s readiness to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, increase imports from the U.S., and support more American investment in Vietnam.

According to the office’s statement, both sides agreed on the importance of making swift progress toward reciprocal and balanced trade between the U.S. and Vietnam.

The two chief negotiators also directed their technical teams to begin discussions in the coming days to expand market access and address unfair trade practices.

The Department of Foreign Market Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said the talks are a key step toward establishing the principles, scope, and timeline for a future bilateral trade agreement.

Greer welcomed the beginning of formal negotiations and expressed optimism that both countries could reach a deal that supports stable, mutually beneficial trade ties.

Minister Dien reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with the U.S..

He said Vietnamese agencies are ready to address U.S. concerns and pursue solutions that reflect shared responsibility and mutual benefit.

On April 22, Prime Minister Chinh chaired a meeting with key ministries to prepare for the talks. 

He stressed the importance of ensuring that negotiations do not undermine Vietnam’s existing international agreements or disrupt other markets.

The U.S. has been Vietnam’s largest export market for years. 

In 2024, Vietnamese exports to the U.S. totaled nearly US$120 billion, a 23.2-percent increase from the previous year, accounting for 29.5 percent of the country’s total export revenue, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

In the first two months of 2025, exports to the U.S. reached $19.56 billion, up 16.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024.