PARIS, June 5 — Vietnam and the United States (US) are set to resume high-level trade negotiations by mid-June, as both sides seek to fast-track a reciprocal trade agreement deemed crucial to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported that the decision was reached during a ministerial-level meeting held in Paris, France, on Wednesday between Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who head their respective government negotiation teams.
The two sides reviewed progress made since the last technical round of talks, evaluated the implementation of earlier commitments, and outlined the direction for the upcoming discussions.
Diên presented Vietnam’s official response to additional US proposals and reaffirmed Hanoi’s commitment to a mutually beneficial outcome.
Greer, in turn, commended Vietnam’s constructive engagement and welcomed its efforts to address US concerns.
He stressed the importance of agreeing on reciprocal taxation policies, especially in the context of the countries’ upgraded strategic partnership.
Greer also acknowledged Vietnam’s key concerns and offered possible solutions to address more complex elements of the negotiations.
Both ministers agreed on the need to speed up negotiations and achieve substantial progress in the third technical round, scheduled for mid-June. They also instructed their technical teams to intensify virtual coordination to resolve outstanding issues.
The two parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to close cooperation and expressed readiness to hold additional high-level meetings as necessary to advance the agreement.
— Bernama
