HCMC – Vietnam and the United States are stepping up negotiations on reciprocal trade and expanding agricultural imports, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).
On the morning of November 13 (local time) in Washington, D.C., Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met with U.S. Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Trade and a key voice for America’s agricultural sector.
During the meeting, Minister Dien highlighted the potential and progress of economic ties between the two countries, particularly with the state of Nebraska. He noted that since Vietnam and the U.S. began reciprocal tariff negotiations earlier this year, Vietnam has committed to increasing imports of several American products.
Vietnamese firms, he said, are particularly interested in high-quality U.S. corn for seed production and ethanol processing, which supports Vietnam’s sustainable energy strategy. Nebraska beef also remains highly popular among Vietnamese consumers.
The minister expressed hope for practical cooperation mechanisms with Nebraska in sectors of mutual interest, further strengthening bilateral trade. Since early 2024, Vietnam’s imports of U.S. cotton have surged by 126%, seafood by 8%, and corn and soybeans by 35%. Vietnam has also signed contracts to purchase multiple aircraft from the U.S.
Although trade imbalances remain, Minister Dien said removing Vietnam from the U.S. D1/D3 list, which are groups of countries restricted from accessing high-tech products, would create an important foundation for more balanced trade.
He called on Representative Smith, given his influence and deep understanding of agriculture and trade, to support Vietnam in the negotiation process and act as a bridge to enhance cooperation, especially in Nebraska’s strong sectors such as agriculture, aviation, and biotechnology. He also briefed Smith on current issues within the reciprocal trade negotiations and urged U.S. support for an early conclusion with positive results.
Representative Smith thanked the minister for his visit and reaffirmed confidence that the two countries, given recent positive developments, can further strengthen trade cooperation.
He praised Vietnam’s efforts to balance trade, particularly its increased corn imports for biofuel production, and acknowledged the strong potential he observed during visits to Vietnam’s agricultural and seafood facilities.
Representative Smith expressed his hope that the two countries would soon conclude the reciprocal trade agreement negotiations and that the agreement would deliver positive value for bilateral economic cooperation.
