Vietnam reports major progress in reciprocal trade talks with US

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, who leads Vietnam’s negotiating delegation, said both sides made great strides in services, digital trade, agriculture, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary standards, as well as narrowed gaps in other issues.

During the closing session, representatives from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Vietnamese negotiating team described the round as “highly productive,” creating momentum toward an early conclusion of the agreement.

USTR officials were said to appreciate Vietnam’s goodwill, effort, and creative approach, especially after a direct ministerial-level discussion between Minister Dien and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer prior to the technical meetings.

Based on Vietnam’s key proposals, Washington has provided what were described as “initial positive signals” and may consider adjustments depending on the overall negotiation package.

Both sides agreed to continue online technical discussions in the coming days and begin preparations for a ministerial-level virtual meeting between Greer and Dien, expected to take place later this month.

On the sidelines of the negotiations, Minister Dien met U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska, chair of the House Subcommittee on Trade and a prominent voice for the U.S. agricultural sector.

He told Smith that Vietnam has increased imports of U.S. products since the two countries began negotiating the reciprocal trade agreement.

Vietnam’s businesses, he added, are particularly interested in high-quality American corn for seed production and ethanol processing – an energy priority under Vietnam’s sustainable development strategy.

Beef from Nebraska is also increasingly popular among Vietnamese consumers, Dien noted, expressing hope for deeper cooperation with the state in agriculture, aviation, and biotechnology.

Dien reiterated Vietnam’s expectation that the U.S. remove the country from its D1 and D3 lists, which restrict access to advanced technologies.

Lifting these barriers, he said, would be a crucial foundation for balancing bilateral trade.

Congressman Smith expressed confidence that the two countries can further advance cooperation and said he hopes the reciprocal trade agreement negotiations will conclude soon with strong results.

Minister Dien also met John Neuffer, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, along with leading U.S. chip manufacturers.

The Vietnamese official called for cooperation in revising policies, improving the regulatory framework, and easing restrictions on high-technology transfers — key steps for building a more open environment for semiconductor collaboration.

Neuffer praised Vietnam as an essential link in global semiconductor supply chains and said the country is moving in the right direction by rapidly adopting a national semiconductor strategy.

He expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation.