Hanoi, April 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: A high-level Vietnamese delegation is set to visit the United States on May 1 to engage in official bilateral trade negotiations with relevant U.S. agencies, amid a critical window of tariff reprieve and intensified diplomatic efforts.
According to Đỗ Ngọc Hưng, Trade Counsellor of the Vietnam Trade Office in the U.S., Việt Nam has been included among a select group of countries prioritized by Washington for trade talks, alongside India, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.
“This demonstrates that the U.S. views Việt Nam as an important, serious, and goodwill partner, and genuinely acknowledges its concerns,” Hưng stated.
Currently, the U.S. has delayed the imposition of heightened reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trade partners, including Vietnam, for a period of 90 days. During this grace period, a provisional tariff rate of 10 percent will be applied.
On April 23, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên, who leads Vietnam’s negotiation team, held a pivotal phone conversation with U.S. Chief Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to formally initiate discussions on bilateral economic and trade issues. The exchange laid the groundwork for defining the principles, scope, and roadmap of the upcoming negotiations.
Following the dialogue, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) described the conversation as “productive,” emphasizing its readiness to advance talks. The USTR subsequently invited Vietnam’s inter-agency delegation to Washington to formally commence negotiation procedures.
Trade Counsellor Hưng emphasized that the U.S.’s invitation reflects a serious response to Vietnam’s previous proposals and a mutual interest in resolving tariff-related concerns. He recommended that Vietnam’s agencies intensify diplomatic engagement and develop a clear strategy to safeguard national trade interests.
Hưng further noted that the structure of trade between the two countries is largely complementary, enabling U.S. consumers to benefit from high-quality Vietnamese exports at competitive prices. He also acknowledged growing confidence among major U.S. corporations and retail distributors in Việt Nam’s potential to reach a fair agreement, either through the removal of reciprocal tariffs or through appropriate adjustments.
Additionally, several American businesses have shown interest in participating in the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2025, set to be hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in September, further underscoring deepening trade ties between the two nations.
