Vietnam, US to accelerate trade negotiation  

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam and the US have agreed to accelerate negotiations for the third technical negotiation round expected in the first half of June 2025.

This agreement was reached during bilateral negotiations on reciprocal trade agreements between the two countries took place on June 4 in Paris, France between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, head of the Vietnamese Government’s negotiation team, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, leading the US negotiation team.

Dien outlined Vietnam’s responses to the US's additional concerns and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation with the US. He also invited US Trade Representative Greer to share the US's position on Vietnam’s concerns.

Greer acknowledged Vietnam’s constructive attitude and approach to the issues raised by the US and recognized the efforts and cooperative spirit of the Vietnamese negotiation team.

He noted that Vietnam is a comprehensive strategic partner of the US and that reaching an agreement on reciprocal tax policy is important for both countries.

Greer also replied favorably to Vietnam's concerns and suggested a number of approaches for dealing with complicated issues in the negotiation process.

Both ministers agreed to assign their technical teams to hold more online working sessions in thematic groups to resolve the remaining technical issues to better serve the upcoming negotiation round later in June 2025.

The ministers committed to maintaining close coordination and expressed their readiness to hold further ministerial-level exchanges to advance the negotiation process toward an outcome that meets both sides' interests.