Vietnamese trade minister calls on American businesses to support Vietnam in reciprocal trade agreement negotiations with US

During his working visit to the U.S., Dien met with CEO of Warburg Pincus Investment Fund and USABC chairman Jeffrey Perlman.

The Vietnamese minister highly appreciated the results of economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. over the past time, affirming that the U.S. is one of the leading important economic partners of Vietnam.

He emphasized that the Vietnam–U.S. economic relations are complementary, helping to create competitive advantages and promoting sustainable development, in line with Vietnam’s orientation of building an independent, self-reliant economy and deep international integration.

He called on USABC and the U.S. business community to promote the investment and business potential and opportunities in Vietnam to U.S. partners.

Perlman expressed his confidence in Vietnam's economic development prospects and affirmed that the Southeast Asian country is currently Warburg Pincus' second-largest market in Asia.

Warburg Pincus is committed to long-term investment in Vietnam and will have a positive voice to support Vietnam in promoting bilateral economic and trade relations with the U.S., Perlman added.

He noted that he will soon work with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to propose important contents.

In particular, USABC supports a balanced and harmonious trade agreement between Vietnam and the U.S.. 

The US needs to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN – a region that plays a strategic role in Washington's policy.

The current trade deficit is a natural result of the relationship between a developed economy like the U.S. and an economy in the early stages of development like Vietnam, which needs to be assessed objectively and comprehensively, Perlman said.

The two sides also discussed potential areas of cooperation such as energy, industry, digital transformation, green transition, logistics, and supply chain development.

USABC is committed to continuing to accompany Vietnam in its efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability and sustainable development.

On the same day, Minister Dien had a working session with leaders of AAFA and leading U.S. textile, garment and footwear enterprises such as Gap, Levis Strauss, Harnes Brands, and Under Amour.

Dien highly appreciated the role of AAFA in promoting Vietnam–U.S. trade relations, and thanked the association for always being an effective bridge between U.S. enterprises and manufacturers in Vietnam.

He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to be a reliable partner in the global supply chain and wants to strengthen coordination to build a fair, highly adaptive and sustainable trade environment.

At the meetings, Dien asked large U.S. associations and corporations, with strong influence, to help convey Vietnam's message that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Hanoi and Washington has created favorable conditions for American companies to invest and do business in Vietnam to the Trump administration.

Therefore, the cooperation with Vietnam will bring long-term strategic benefits and contribute to improving the trade balance toward fairness, harmony, and sustainability between the two countries. 

Vietnam needs to be treated as a priority trade partner of the U.S..

Vietnam proposed that the U.S. join hands to resolve current trade and economic issues, promptly recognize Vietnam as a market economy, and remove Vietnam from the list of countries to which U.S. firms are restricted from exporting high-tech products, in order to bring practical benefits to the two countries in both the short and long terms.