Washington, D.C., June 16, 2025 – The Europe Today: Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, Nguyễn Hồng Diên, held in-depth discussions with United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer during the third round of negotiations on a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement.
The negotiations, held from June 9–12 in Washington D.C., were part of a scheduled framework agreed upon by both parties. Minister Nguyễn Hồng Diên led the Vietnamese delegation in his capacity as Head of the Government’s Negotiation Team.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the four-day negotiation round yielded significant progress, with the two sides narrowing differences across all key issues. The discussions were described as candid and constructive, particularly regarding matters addressed in Vietnam’s official response document previously submitted to the U.S. side.
Delegates from both countries engaged in thorough exchanges, carefully listening to each other’s perspectives and rationale in a joint effort to identify mutually acceptable solutions.
The two sides also agreed to hold an online working-level meeting in the near future to continue resolving outstanding issues. This meeting is intended to pave the way for a virtual ministerial dialogue between Secretary Lutnick and Minister Diên.
On the final day of technical discussions, Minister Diên held a direct session with Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer. This marked the first time the U.S. initiated a ministerial-level engagement in this format during the bilateral trade negotiations.
Drawing on the progress made over the four-day talks, Minister Diên presented several proposals aimed at expediting the negotiation process and moving toward concrete outcomes. Both Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s constructive approach and goodwill. They welcomed the proposals as a sound basis for further technical work and future consensus.
Following the joint meeting, Minister Diên also held a separate bilateral session with Secretary Lutnick to further clarify key points raised earlier. During the discussion, Secretary Lutnick reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to its relationship with Vietnam and expressed hope for continued economic success in the Southeast Asian nation.
He acknowledged Vietnam’s concerns and proposals and indicated that the U.S. Department of Commerce, in coordination with the USTR, would consider suitable approaches going forward.
Minister Diên, for his part, welcomed the positive tone of the discussions and reiterated Việt Nam’s commitment to advancing a balanced and sustainable economic and trade partnership with the United States—one that benefits the peoples and businesses of both nations.
Both sides concluded by instructing their respective technical teams to maintain close and regular communication with the shared goal of achieving a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that reflects the expectations and national conditions of each country.
