US agrees to start tax negotiations with Vietnam

On the afternoon of April 9 (local time), within the framework of his visit to the US as Special Envoy of General Secretary To Lam to discuss bilateral economic and trade issues, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam wishes to continue to strengthen and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US; and thanked the US Government for always supporting a "strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous" Vietnam.

He emphasized that Vietnam is persistent in building an independent and self-reliant economy, and in pursuing an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, multilateralizing and diversifying foreign relations.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Photo: BNG

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc stated that Vietnam wishes to work with relevant US agencies to concretize the contents of the discussion between General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump on April 4, thereby continuing to maintain stable and sustainable economic and trade relations for the benefit of businesses and people of the two countries.

In recent times, Vietnam has proactively implemented many measures to contribute to resolving the trade deficit between the two sides, responding to the concerns of the US. Accordingly, the US's imposition of high tariffs on Vietnamese exports is not consistent with the mutually beneficial economic and trade relations between the two countries, and does not reflect the spirit of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that although the US has decided to postpone the imposition of tariffs for 90 days, the two countries need to soon negotiate a bilateral trade agreement to create a long-term framework to promote stable and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer highly appreciated Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc's visit as Special Envoy of General Secretary To Lam, expressing gratitude and appreciation for Vietnam's positive and proactive steps, demonstrating Vietnam's commitment to promoting Vietnam-US economic and trade relations.

The US attaches great importance to bilateral relations with Vietnam and wishes to closely coordinate to resolve the trade deficit, aiming for increasingly deeper relations in all fields.

The US Trade Representative shared the reasons and challenges facing the US economy that forced the Trump administration to implement the recent tariff policy.

He also explained that the high tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Vietnam were due to the large US trade deficit with Vietnam.

The United States agreed that the two sides should begin negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement, which would include tariff agreements, and asked technical levels from both sides to start discussions immediately.

The two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate to promote a favorable business environment, proactively review and consider minimizing non-tariff barriers to each other's goods, creating favorable conditions for US businesses to increase investment and business in Vietnam, and strengthening coordination to control and prevent acts of trade fraud.

Vietnam does not compete with US strengths

On April 8-9, within the framework of his working visit to the US, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc had meetings with Senator Bill Hagerty (Republican Party - Tennessee), Senator Steve Daines (Republican Party - Montana) and many US organizations and businesses.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc talks with Senator Bill Hagerty. Photo: BNG

The Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the support of the US Congress and individual senators for the Vietnam-US relationship, expressed his joy at the positive developments in the Vietnam-US relationship after the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and emphasized the significance of 2025 as the year marking the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Regarding bilateral economic and trade relations, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the Vietnam-US relationship is complementary; Vietnam does not compete with US goods, and imports many high-tech products, services and technologies from the US. Recently, Vietnam has proactively addressed many of the US's concerns.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc presents a gift to Senator Bill Hagerty. Photo: BNG

The Deputy Prime Minister asked the US Congress to continue to support and have a voice so that the US can lift tariffs on Vietnamese goods, and support the two countries to negotiate and discuss to soon reach a long-term and sustainable bilateral trade cooperation agreement that meets the interests of the people and businesses of both countries.

The two Senators recalled their good memories when visiting Vietnam; wished that the Vietnam-US relationship would continue to develop further and make positive contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world.

The two Senators appreciated Vietnam's proactive approach in handling tariff issues with the US; affirmed their support for Vietnam-US trade relations on the basis of overall strategic benefits in the bilateral relationship.

The two men believe that Vietnam and the US will soon start the negotiation process and find solutions to promote stable and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations in the coming time.

During his time working in the US, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc also met with groups of experts, intellectuals, and large businesses from the US and Vietnam...

According to VietNamNet

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202504/my-nhat-tri-khoi-dong-dam-phan-thue-voi-viet-nam-1039324/