Third round of Vietnam-US trade talks sees significant progress: ministry

Vietnam and the U.S. have concluded the third round of technical negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement, achieving significant progress and narrowing gaps across all areas, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The four-day talks, held from June 9 to 12 in Washington, D.C., brought together the Vietnamese delegation led by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and American negotiators headed by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Both sides held frank and constructive exchanges, particularly on issues outlined in Vietnam’s official written response previously delivered to the U.S. team.

The negotiators listened carefully to each other’s analysis and rationale as they worked toward mutually agreeable solutions.

The ministry noted that the negotiations had made substantial headway by reducing divergences in every discussion area.

The two teams agreed to hold a virtual meeting in the coming days to address remaining issues and prepare for an upcoming online session between U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Minister Dien.

In the round’s final working session last Thursday, Minister Dien engaged simultaneously with Greer and Secretary Howard Lutnick - marking the first U.S. proposed ministerial level dialogue in this format.

During this session, Minister Dien introduced several initiatives to accelerate the negotiation process and achieve concrete results.

Both Lutnick and Greer praised the proposals, citing them as a strong basis for further discussions.

Afterward, Minister Dien held a separate meeting with Secretary Lutnick, during which the latter reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its relationship with Vietnam and expressed support for Vietnam’s continued vigorous development.

Lutnick acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, stating he would coordinate with the U.S. Trade Representative to explore suitable solutions.

Minister Dien reiterated Vietnam’s resolve to forge a balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial economic partnership with the U.S..

Both sides tasked their technical teams with working toward an agreement aligned with each country’s expectations and requirements.

These bilateral negotiations - following two technical rounds held last month - were launched after the U.S. administration announced a 46-percent reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese imports on April 3.

Initially set to take effect on April 9, the tariff implementation was postponed for 90 days to allow time for negotiations.

Vinh Tho - Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/06/16-17:39)