This was emphasized by Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy during a working session on June 4 (U.S. time) with Brian Baldridge, Ohio’s Secretary of Agriculture.

Secretary Baldridge noted that Vietnam and the U.S., particularly the state of Ohio, have a complementary rather than competitive relationship when it comes to agricultural trade. He said Ohio recognizes Vietnam's potential and sees ample room to boost bilateral trade.

“We are proud to collaborate with our Vietnamese agricultural partners to create new opportunities for Ohio’s farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities,” he stated.

Notably, both ministers agreed to propose to their respective governments the implementation of rational trade policies to avoid disruptions to the supply chain.

Minister Do Duc Duy stressed that refraining from levying up to 46% in reciprocal tariffs on certain agricultural products holds significant value. It safeguards the interests of Vietnamese farmers and enterprises while simultaneously generating jobs in the U.S. agricultural supply chain. Furthermore, American consumers benefit by gaining access to high-quality, reasonably priced food from Vietnam.

While Vietnam mainly exports tropical products such as coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, fruit, and wooden furniture, the U.S. and Ohio supply temperate products like soybeans, beef, corn, timber, milk, and dairy products - categories in which Vietnam lacks large-scale production advantages.

At a Vietnam-Ohio business networking forum attended by 50 enterprises from each side, delegates agreed there remains great potential for expanded cooperation in agriculture, particularly agricultural trade.

Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that a key goal of the forum was to work toward a more balanced trade relationship.

In that spirit, the Vietnamese side shared information with U.S. businesses and distributors, especially in Ohio, seeking to establish cooperative ties. The event also presented an opportunity to boost the import of Ohio’s key products into Vietnam, including corn, soybeans, animal feed ingredients, and sawn timber.

During the forum, parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to import animal feed ingredients from Ohio, with a total value exceeding USD 600 million. Numerous Vietnamese businesses also connected with Ohioan partners to promote imports of raw timber, fruits, and meat.

This round of agreement signings is seen as highly significant for Ohio’s agricultural economy, as local producers currently face rising production costs, declining commodity prices, and a pressing need to expand into new markets for core products such as soybeans, grains, meat, timber, and various other agricultural items.

Lyndsey Erb, Director of Industry Relations at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), stated, “We closely follow Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization process, especially the impressive growth of its aquaculture sector. Vietnam now ranks fourth globally in aquaculture production. Demand for soybean meal and animal feed is expected to double by 2028.”

Earlier, on June 2 in Iowa, Vietnamese businesses signed four key memoranda of understanding with a total value of USD 800 million in U.S. agricultural imports. In addition, the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services opened a dialogue channel with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, encouraging public-private cooperation between the two countries.

Tam An