The United States and Vietnam have begun the second round of their trade talks in Washington, according to a statement by the Vietnamese government on Tuesday.
The Southeast Asian nation is seeking a trade agreement that would help it avoid a potential 46% tariff—a move that could destabilize its export-driven growth model.
The Ministry of Trade revealed that the formal bilateral trade negotiations, which began on Monday, will continue until May 22. This follows the first round of talks held earlier this month.
During the discussions, the two countries focused on a comprehensive strategy to address key issues of mutual concern and to accelerate the negotiation process, according to the ministry. It also stated that current policies are under review as a foundation for moving forward.
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Minister of Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, includes representatives from various sectors such as technology, agriculture, and construction, as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance and the central bank.
Dien met with his U.S. counterpart, Jamieson Greer, in South Korea last week following the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum meeting.
The United States has postponed the imposition of the 46% tariff on Vietnam until July, replacing it with a current 10% rate. If implemented, the tariff could hinder Vietnam’s growth, given its heavy reliance on exports to the U.S., its largest market.
Vietnam, a key regional manufacturing hub for many Western companies, recorded a trade surplus of over $123 billion with the U.S. in 2024. To reduce this surplus, Hanoi has taken multiple steps, such as limiting shipments of Chinese goods to the U.S. through its territory and increasing purchases of American products
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