The talks were held under the direction of Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Head of the Vietnamese Government’s Negotiation Delegation, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Head of the US Government’s Negotiation Delegation.

On November 12, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and Deputy Head of the Government’s Negotiation Delegation Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan held a working session with US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), marking the start of the technical sessions.

The meeting focused on bilateral economic–trade relations and the implementation of outcomes from the eighth Ministerial-level negotiation session held on November 10 between the heads of the two negotiation delegations.

Tan emphasised key results achieved during the ministerial session and reached agreement with the US side on priority issues for the technical teams of both countries to address in order to secure the highest possible progress.

This step is seen as an important continuation, providing direction for the technical groups and reaffirming both sides’ commitment to promoting stable, balanced, fair, and sustainable trade cooperation.

Switzer welcomed Vietnam’s progress in trade policy, institutional reforms, and international integration, as well as the results of recent negotiation rounds. He affirmed that close cooperation between the two sides would continue to facilitate the negotiation process.

Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination and strengthened exchanges among technical teams to advance the reciprocal trade agreement negotiations in line with the guidance of senior leaders and ministers of both countries. The goal is to soon complete a new bilateral trade cooperation framework that contributes to deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States.

Immediately after the meeting, negotiation teams from both countries proceeded to their technical work as scheduled.

Also on November 12, Minister Dien met with Rock Bordelon, chairman of Gulf of America Energy Sourcing LLC (GAES), a US energy corporation headquartered in Louisiana, and other executives of the corporation.

The Minister appreciated GAES’s cooperation proposals and reaffirmed that Vietnam welcomes US enterprises to invest in LNG infrastructure development and the energy sector in Vietnam.

The Minister also held a working session with Joseph Damond, Chair of International Trade Policy & Global Life Sciences at Crowell Global Advisors (CGA), former US Deputy Trade Representative (1989–2001) and former Chief Negotiator for the Vietnam–US Bilateral Trade Agreement (1995–2000). Dien acknowledged Damond’s experience and recommendations regarding current bilateral trade cooperation.

Vietnam, US hold ministerial-level talks on reciprocal trade agreement

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held the eighth ministerial-level negotiation on a reciprocal trade agreement between the two countries in Washington D.C, on November 10, ahead of technical discussions scheduled for November 12–14.