Vietnam, US to continue reciprocal tariff talks next week
Vietnam has reaffirmed its willingness to facilitate greater access for US goods and companies as Hanoi and Washington prepare to hold the sixth round of negotiations on reciprocal tariffs.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam and the United States will continue discussions on reciprocal tariffs in a sixth negotiation round scheduled for next week, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said on January 29.
Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung will lead the Vietnamese delegation, he said at the ministry’s monthly press briefing.
The second round of negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the US on May 19-22, 2025. Photo: VGP
Tan said Vietnam has prepared carefully for the talks, developed negotiation scenarios and communicated its positions to the US side.
He said that Vietnam runs a trade surplus with the United States but the imbalance does not reflect direct competition, as the two economies produce different types of goods.
Tan said Vietnam aims to reach greater consensus in the sixth round despite demanding requirements from the US.
He said Vietnam seeks to attract more US investment and production while creating better conditions for US goods to enter the Vietnamese market, helping narrow the trade gap and support a more balanced relationship.
He also urged Vietnamese businesses to maintain stable operations and diversify export markets.
The talks follow the fifth round of direct negotiations under the Vietnam-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement, held on November 12-14, 2025, in Washington.
During three days of discussions, both sides made progress in services, digital trade, agriculture, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and worked to narrow remaining differences.
At the end of the round, representatives from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Vietnamese team described the outcome as positive and said it created conditions for moving toward an early conclusion of the agreement.
The ministry said US officials welcomed Vietnam’s goodwill, efforts and flexible negotiating approach and highlighted the impact of high-level engagement, including a meeting between the Vietnamese trade minister and the US Trade Representative ahead of technical talks.
Based on Vietnam’s proposals, the US gave initial positive feedback and said many issues could be resolved within an overall negotiating framework, helping sustain momentum for future rounds, the ministry said.
As the sixth round approaches, Vietnamese officials remain cautiously optimistic and reiterated their commitment to constructive dialogue, mutual benefit and a long-term vision for bilateral trade ties.
The negotiations form part of broader efforts to deepen the Vietnam-US economic relations, expand market access and update trade rules for areas such as digital trade and modern supply chains.
In 2025, the US revised tariff rates on Vietnamese products after initial proposals, imposing a 20% reciprocal tariff on most products, down from a previously proposed 46%, under a framework agreed by both sides.
