Government asks US to suspend tariffs for negotiations

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc stated that Vietnam is always proactive, receptive, and strongly coordinates with the US side to negotiate taxes fairly - Photo: VGP/Tran Manh

On the afternoon of April 4, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and leaders of ministries and branches met with associations, businesses, and diplomatic agencies to discuss solutions to handle tariff issues with the United States.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc stated that Vietnamese and US goods do not compete with each other but complement each other. In recent times, Vietnam has proactively reviewed and reduced many taxes, improved the investment environment, and created favorable conditions for businesses to operate, in order to promote effective and sustainable production and business.

Regarding the US imposing reciprocal tariffs on many countries, including Vietnam, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his wish to hear the opinions and suggestions of businesses, associations, and diplomats so that Vietnam can come up with appropriate solutions and discuss effectively with the US in the spirit of win-win, creating the most favorable conditions for production and business enterprises.

At the meeting, representatives of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association; Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association, Vietnam Electronic Enterprises Association, Vietnam Footwear and Handbag Association, Vietnam Steel Association, Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, Vietnam Plastics Association, Samsung Vietnam, SOVICO Group, etc. all emphasized that the US market is an important and leading market; and expressed concern about the US imposition of tariffs on goods from Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and leaders of ministries and sectors met with associations, businesses, and diplomatic agencies to discuss solutions to handle tariff issues with the United States - Photo: VGP/Tran Manh

Mr. Dinh Viet Phuong, General Director of Vietjet (SOVICO Group) said that in 2025, it will receive 10 Boeing aircraft worth 1.8 billion USD; the total contracts from the US this year are about 2.2 billion USD... Emphasizing that Vietjet's and SOVICO's activities with the US are strategic and sustainable, Vietjet's representative thanked the Government for its great attention and support for businesses in the process of cooperation with the US market in the past time, and at the same time made recommendations for the upcoming negotiations to achieve good results.

Opinions say that the agricultural, forestry, fishery and footwear products that Vietnam exports to the United States are not only products that meet increasingly high standards and have comparative advantages, but also complement the economy and benefit US consumers. Exporting goods from Vietnam to the United States is mutually beneficial; businesses and associations affirm their readiness to increase imports of products from the United States; provide evidence to prove origin and capacity to serve the negotiation process and "by all means, we must maintain this market".

Consulting many practical contents for the Vietnamese Government to negotiate with the US side, especially those related to product lines, product sectors, and tax imposition time; at the same time, proposing measures to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries... Representatives of associations and enterprises pledged to continue to actively cooperate with the Vietnamese Government to solve challenges in the coming time.

At the meeting, representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and the US-ASEAN Business Council highly appreciated Vietnam's timely and harmonious response to the US's imposition of tariffs.

Representatives of the association and the council also mentioned Vietnam's advantages and consulted on the work that needs to be focused on to promote trade between the two countries; as well as the contents that need to be discussed, negotiated, and removed barriers and challenges to have appropriate and effective measures to deal with the issues raised by the United States so that the two economies can develop together.

Appreciating the Vietnamese Government's spirit of accompanying businesses in recent times, representatives of associations and industries have proposed many specific and practical contents, both in the short and long term, for the Vietnamese Government to negotiate with the US Government; expressing confidence that with the efforts, goodwill and active participation of the Vietnamese Government, the negotiations will bring positive results, continuing to contribute to promoting economic and trade relations between the two countries in the coming time.

At the meeting, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, State Bank of Vietnam, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, etc. affirmed that Vietnam will continue to dialogue and review to consider and remove technical barriers, adjust taxes on groups of goods and industries; wish to import scientific and technological products, groups of goods with high technology content, the US has strengths to promote trade cooperation between the two countries; manage exchange rates, interest rates, and credit appropriately, serving production, business, import and export enterprises;...

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc: The Vietnamese Government continues to promote solutions to increase purchases of raw materials and equipment from the United States - Photo: VGP/Tran Manh

Representatives of ministries and sectors suggested that the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and the US-ASEAN Business Council recommend to the Trump administration to increase dialogue; postpone the imposition of new tariffs (about 2-3 months) while the two sides negotiate and find common ground.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc thanked the delegates, representatives of associations, businesses, and diplomatic agencies for their contributions; emphasizing that these are valuable contributions, and the Vietnamese Government respectfully accepts them for future negotiations with the US.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that Vietnam is always proactive, receptive, and strongly coordinates with the US to negotiate fair tariffs; combat the issue of goods transit, and promote two-way trade in a mutually beneficial manner.

For example, recently, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 73/2025/ND-CP, which reduced many tax lines on goods imported from the United States to Vietnam.

Mr. Dinh Viet Phuong, General Director of Vietjet (SOVICO Group) thanked the Government for its great attention and support for businesses in the process of cooperation with the US market - Photo: VGP/Tran Manh

In addition, Vietnam has been promoting contracts to purchase goods from the US (aircraft, LNG gas, etc.); creating favorable conditions for US enterprises to invest, produce and do business in Vietnam.

In the coming time, the Vietnamese Government will continue to promote solutions to increase the purchase of raw materials and equipment from the United States.

Affirming the goodwill of negotiations to soon find a common voice, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc stated: The Vietnamese Government proposed that the US consider temporarily postponing the imposition of taxes for 1-3 months to negotiate, aiming to ensure tax fairness.

Vietnam will also implement solutions to increase the import of goods originating from the United States; wishes to promote cooperation with the United States in the fields of science and technology development, digital transformation, etc.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc also asked Vietnamese enterprises exporting to the US market to maintain prices while waiting for the negotiation results; at the same time, proactively deploy appropriate and effective solutions to "keep the market" in the US.

The Deputy Prime Minister also asked the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and the US-ASEAN Business Council to convey the message of goodwill from the Vietnamese Government and business community to the Trump Administration so that negotiations can be effective and achieve good results, contributing to promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries./.

Tran Manh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chinh-phu-de-nghi-hoa-ky-tam-hoan-ap-thue-de-dam-phan-102250404175911541.htm