HCMC – Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade and the U.S. Trade Representative agreed to accelerate the negotiation process during their June 4 talks on a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement.
The heads of the Vietnamese and U.S. negotiation teams – Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer – held a ministerial-level meeting on June 4 in France as part of the bilateral reciprocal trade agreement talks, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The two ministers reviewed the progress on the points agreed upon following the second round of technical-level talks and discussed the direction for the next round of technical negotiations.
Vietnamese Minister Nguyen Hong Dien outlined the key points in Vietnam’s responses to the additional issues raised by the U.S. and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment and goodwill in working toward a common understanding and joint action with the U.S.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer commended Vietnam’s goodwill, approach, and handling of the issues raised by the U.S., and recognized the efforts and constructive attitude of the Vietnamese negotiation team.
He emphasized that as a comprehensive strategic partner, reaching an agreement on reciprocal tariff policy is crucial for both Vietnam and the U.S. at this time. He also responded positively to the issues raised by Vietnam and proposed several solutions to address complex matters in the negotiations.
Based on this, the two ministers agreed to accelerate the negotiation process, with a particular focus on maximizing efforts to achieve the best possible outcome at the third round of technical talks.
The two ministers agreed to have technical teams intensify discussions through topic-based online sessions to address outstanding technical issues and lay the groundwork for the third round of technical talks, expected in the first half of June 2025.
They pledged to maintain close coordination and expressed their readiness to hold additional ministerial-level meetings to advance the negotiations toward a mutually beneficial outcome.
