Vietnam expects fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement with US

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam is ready to deepen cooperation with the United States, including the signing of a fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement, to ensure stable, substantive and sustainable growth in bilateral economic and trade ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) To Lam made the statement while receiving US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper in Hanoi on January 9, as the ambassador paid a farewell visit at the end of his tenure.

The Party chief congratulated Ambassador Knapper on the successful completion of his mission and praised his significant contributions to the positive development of Vietnam-US relations.

He welcomed the strong outcomes achieved across politics and diplomacy, economy and trade, defense and security, war legacy settlement and science and technology. On that basis, Vietnam stands ready to expand cooperation with the United States toward balanced, fair and mutually beneficial frameworks.

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In late October 2025, Vietnam and the United States announced a joint statement on A Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade between Vietnam and the US, opening unprecedented market access for exporters from both sides.

The framework builds on the long-standing economic partnership, including the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in 2000 and effective from 2001.

Under the joint statement, Vietnam will grant preferential market access to substantially all US industrial and agricultural exports.

The United States will maintain a 20% reciprocal tariff on originating Vietnamese goods as stipulated in Executive Order 14257 dated April 2, 2025, as amended. It will also designate selected products listed in Annex III of Executive Order 14346 dated September 5, 2025, as aligned partners eligible for a zero percent reciprocal tariff.

Both countries have committed to working constructively to address non-tariff barriers affecting bilateral trade, with a focus on priority sectors.

General Secretary To Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, cooperation and development, along with the diversification and multilateralization of external relations. He also underlined the country’s unwavering adherence to the “four nos” defense policy.

Vietnam’s “four nos” defense policy reflects its commitment to peace and strategic autonomy. It means no military alliances, no alignment with one country against another, no foreign military bases or use of Vietnamese territory against other states and no use or threat of force in international relations.

The policy underpins Vietnam’s independent and self-reliant defense posture, while contributing to regional stability and trust-building.

Lam said Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with the United States and seeks closer cooperation with the US administration to further deepen bilateral ties, based on respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political systems to make a constructive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.

Sharing Vietnam’s recent progress, the Party leader noted that since the 13th National Party Congress in 2021, the country has recorded major achievements, particularly in innovation and science and technology development, which have been widely recognized by the international community.

He said the upcoming 14th National Party Congress (scheduled for mid-January 2026) would mark a new stage of development toward peace, independence, democracy and prosperity.

Regarding international issues, General Secretary To Lam stressed the need to uphold the UN Charter and international law, and to resolve disputes through dialogue and other peaceful means.

Concerning regional security, he called on the United States to continue supporting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), noting that activities in the East Sea (referred to as the South China Sea) should contribute to this shared objective.

He expressed confidence that Ambassador Marc Knapper would continue to support and promote Vietnam-US relations in any future role, helping the partnership achieve further progress.

For his part, Ambassador Knapper thanked the Party and State leaders and the Vietnamese people for their support throughout his tenure.

He congratulated Vietnam on its notable achievements, highlighting stable economic growth, improving living standards and rising international stature.

The ambassador said he was proud to have taken part in key milestones in bilateral relations, notably the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023 and major activities marking 30 years of diplomatic relations.

He affirmed his continued commitment to fostering Vietnam-US relations for peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.

Earlier in 2025, General Secretary To Lam met Ambassador Marc Knapper twice, in late March and late September.

During his tenure, US Ambassador Marc Knapper played a key role in deepening Vietnam-US relations, particularly in 2025, when the two countries marked 30 years of diplomatic ties. He consistently highlighted the maturity of the relationship and supported efforts to move cooperation toward greater depth, trust and long-term stability.

Ambassador Knapper actively promoted cooperation across education, culture, trade, technology and defense. Under his tenure, Vietnam remained one of the largest sources of international students in the United States, with academic exchanges and workforce development programs expanding steadily.

Meanwhile, economic ties also grew strongly, with bilateral trade surpassing US$150 billion and US firms remaining deeply engaged in Vietnam’s market.

Defense and security cooperation advanced through regular dialogues, capacity-building programs and equipment transfers, helping strengthen strategic trust.

At the same time, the ambassador emphasized humanitarian cooperation, including disaster relief for flood-hit regions and continued joint efforts to address war legacies such as unexploded ordnance and dioxin contamination.

In addition, technology and digital cooperation emerged as a new pillar, with increased collaboration in AI, innovation ecosystems and high-quality human resource development.

Ambassador Marc Knapper’s tenure helped consolidate the foundations of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and expand its reach across key sectors, shaping the relationship’s future.

In sharing with The Hanoi Times, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper described the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as a "historic milestone" that has enabled the two countries to expand cooperation across nearly all fields in support of peace, security and shared prosperity.

He said the upgrade has deepened ties in investment, education and training, science and technology, health, environment and climate change, with a common goal of improving people’s lives while promoting stability. A key focus is high-tech manufacturing, particularly semiconductors, with US companies such as Intel expanding activities in assembly, testing, packaging and chip design in Vietnam.

Workforce development has emerged as a central pillar, as high-tech investment drives demand for skilled labor in electrical engineering, computer science and STEM fields. Recent initiatives include a cooperation program involving the US Department of State, Arizona State University and Vietnam’s National Innovation Center to promote STEM education and innovation planning.

The partnership has also advanced in health, security and defense, reflected in high-level naval visits and the transfer of additional US Coast Guard vessels to support Vietnam’s defense modernization. At the same time, both sides have continued cooperation on addressing war legacies, including unexploded ordnance clearance and support for people with disabilities.

Looking ahead to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic normalization, Ambassador Knapper said the relationship has evolved from war to friendship and now to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with Vietnam becoming a leading US trade partner in Southeast Asia, the largest ASEAN source of international students in the US and a key partner for regional peace, stability and prosperity.