Vietnam, US very close to finalizing reciprocal trade agreement: trade representative

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met with Greer in New York on Monday morning (local time) as part of his working trip to the U.S. to attend the high-level general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and conduct bilateral activities.

The top Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with the U.S. and wishes to work with the administration of President Donald Trump to continue advancing bilateral relations in a stable, substantive, effective, and sustainable manner.

He said economic, trade, and investment cooperation is one of the most important pillars of bilateral relations, directly benefiting businesses and people and contributing to the development of both countries.

Vietnam has made efforts to substantively promote cooperation and purchase goods from the U.S. in order to boost bilateral trade in a more balanced direction, while creating more orders, jobs, and direct benefits for businesses and workers in both countries.

Greer appreciated the attention paid by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Vietnam's efforts to balance trade between the two countries.

Regarding the reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement, Greer said the two negotiating teams had made significant efforts and achieved substantial progress, bringing them very close to a final outcome.

Once signed and implemented, the agreement would continue to open up new opportunities and prospects for cooperation between the two countries, he said.

After hearing Greer's report on positive developments in the negotiations and several economic and trade issues of concern to the U.S., State President To Lam welcomed the very positive results achieved by the two sides toward an early signing of the agreement, which would create a stable and long-term framework for bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations.

He also called on the U.S. to take a comprehensive approach to outstanding trade issues, including those related to investigations under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974.

The top Vietnamese leader expressed his wish that the two countries continue to step up efforts to promote substantive economic, trade and investment ties, bringing benefits to the people of both countries.