Vietnam and the United States have concluded the second round of negotiations on a proposed bilateral Reciprocal Trade Agreement, with both sides reporting positive progress and a clear roadmap for further discussions in June.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the talks, held from May 19–22 in Washington D.C., covered a wide range of issues and were conducted in a spirit of goodwill, transparency, mutual respect, and balanced interests aligned with each country's international commitments and development levels.

During the three-day session, the two sides exchanged detailed information about each country’s existing trade policies and clarified key language in the draft agreement. They also discussed a comprehensive approach to resolving the core concerns of both parties in order to accelerate the negotiation process.

The Vietnamese and U.S. delegations engaged in constructive, open discussions on key economic and trade issues. By the end of the talks, they had identified areas of convergence, sections requiring further alignment, and outstanding issues that will need more in-depth discussions moving forward.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, who led Vietnam’s negotiating team, met with U.S. Ambassador and Chief Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the close of the third day to summarize the results and map out next steps. Both agreed to focus efforts on unresolved matters in the next round, scheduled for early June 2025.

Mr. Greer praised Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts to address U.S. concerns, and expressed his desire to continue technical-level discussions, as well as engagement at the ministerial level, to expedite progress.

Minister Dien welcomed Greer's remarks and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to developing a balanced and sustainable economic partnership with the United States. He agreed with Greer’s proposals and instructed technical teams on both sides to continue working together toward a mutually beneficial agreement that reflects each side’s expectations and conditions.

The upcoming negotiations will build on the outcomes of this second round, as both sides aim to finalize the agreement in a timely manner.

Tam An