US tightens trade relations with Vietnam in largest agricultural mission

The largest agricultural trade mission in the history of US-Vietnam trade relations came to Vietnam to seek further cooperation with Vietnamese agencies and partners. 

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Alexis Taylor addresses the press conference at Melia Hotel Hanoi on September 12. Photos: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times

Led by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Alexis Taylor, the delegation of 100 participants, including 35 US business representatives and officials from nine State departments of agriculture and representatives from 21 USDA cooperators visited Vietnam on September 9-13.  

The trip is in honor of the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership when the multi-city trade mission spanned Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, even attracting international buyers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand.

This is Alexis Taylor’s second trip to Vietnam in two years. During a press briefing, she explained the trade mission’s focus on connecting with key importers for business-to-business meetings and learning about local and regional market conditions through site visits and briefings with industry experts and government officials in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Under Secretary Taylor and officials from nine State departments of agriculture at the press conference.

According to Under Secretary Taylor, markets in Southeast Asia hold immense opportunities for US exporters and Vietnamese consumers are increasingly turning to US products to meet growing demands for food processing, retail, and restaurant sectors, with exceptional presence in tree nut, fresh fruit, poultry, beef, and pork industries.

Taylor said the US presence is comprehensive and ambitious in Vietnam, working frequently with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other government agencies. “Our teams here work tirelessly to help Vietnam improve its regulatory infrastructure and science-based decision-making processes, advancing efforts on agricultural biotechnology, market access of US products, maximum residue limits, fertilizer use, sustainability, and more,” she told The Hanoi Times.

During the visit, the participating companies will engage with businesses from Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam to build strategic partnerships that pave the way for future sales, Taylor emphasized.

The trade mission comes on the heels of the recent market access expansion for US peaches and nectarines and marks the first anniversary of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During this milestone, both leaders emphasized the critical role of economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as innovation-driven, inclusive economic growth, as key pillars and driving forces in the bilateral relationship. 

In 2023, US agricultural and related exports to Vietnam reached nearly $3.5 billion, valued by Vietnamese consumers, importers, and retailers for their reliability, quality, and sustainability. Products like U.S. tree nuts, fresh fruits, poultry, beef, and pork are especially sought after in Vietnam’s food processing, retail, and restaurant industries.

The largest agricultural trade mission in the history of US-Vietnam trade relations attracts a large number of local media.

Increase the presence of US food in Vietnam

In celebration of the first anniversary of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Embassy in Hanoi organized the Great American Barbeque Festival at Melia Hotel in Hanoi to introduce Vietnamese diners and food enthusiasts to a variety of American food, beverages, agricultural products, and culture.

The event was sponsored by USDA and a network of US partners, including the US Meat Export Federation, US Pork, US Beef, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, Potatoes USA, USA Blueberries, Raisin Administrative Committee, Washington Apple Commission, California Milk Advisory Board, US Soybean Export Council, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and California Fresh Fruits Association.

Highlights of the event included speeches by US Ambassador Marc Knapper, USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor, and a cooking demonstration. 

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper speaks at the Great American BBQ Festival held at Melia Hotel Hanoi on September 12.

Speaking at the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper mentioned the upgrading of the US-Vietnam relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership a year ago. He said the close cooperation between the United States and Vietnam in promoting agricultural products and bilateral trade is another “testament to the commitment between the two nations in forging a better future for people in the US and Vietnam.

This is the third year of the Great American BBQ Festival, an initiative from our Foreign Agricultural Service office in Hanoi. “The festival has become a tradition and talk-of-the-town culinary event”, said US Ambassador.

Bilateral agricultural trade between the US and Vietnam has seen significant growth over the past five years. Vietnam ranks as the tenth largest market for US agricultural exports, while the United States stands as the top importer of agricultural products from Vietnam.

Addressing the event, USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor said it’s a special opportunity where diners in Hanoi have the chance to taste and learn more about the healthiness, freshness, high quality, and versatility of US agricultural products.