US, Vietnam cooperate well in agriculture, says Ambassador Knapper

During a working session with the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on April 13, Knapper expressed the US appreciation for Vietnam’s strong commitments to its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

With regard to agriculture related issues, the US is ready to provide technical, financial, professional and human support to help Vietnam respond to climate change, he said.

For his part, MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan affirmed that Vietnam is ready to promote cooperation programs as well as to work closely with the US to remove barriers to agricultural trade between the two countries.

He welcomed the US Department of Commerce’s recent decision to slash the anti-dumping duties on Vietnam’s honey exporters by almost sevenfold compared to its preliminary conclusions.

The move can help Vietnamese beekeepers develop and expand the honey market in the US, said Minister Hoan who on this occasion invited the US diplomat to visit honey production facilities in Vietnam to learn more about this product.

At the working session, Ambassador Knapper assured his host that the US wants to become one of the top partners chosen by Vietnam, pointing to the fact that US agricultural products can contribute to ensuring food security and an abundant supply for the Vietnamese market, while Vietnam provides very diverse products to US consumers.

Appreciating the diplomat’s viewpoint, Minister Hoan suggested that the two sides continue to work to keep trade smooth as agricultural products of the US exported to Vietnam stand firm in the market, and said that he hopes the US side will open the market for Vietnamese pomelos.

The Minister also suggested that the US support Vietnam with projects on preservation technology to ensure quality standards, thereby gaining deeper access to the US market.

Both sides also examined cooperation in helping Vietnam address the IUU yellow card issue and produce an African Swine Fever vaccine.