At a regular press conference on the afternoon of April 10, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang commented on the United States' decision to temporarily suspend reciprocal tariffs on exports from over 75 countries, including Vietnam.

“We view the U.S. decision to pause the imposition of reciprocal tariffs for 90 days as a positive step,” Ms. Hang stated.

She emphasized that, within the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam will work with the U.S. to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement based on mutual respect, aiming for fair and sustainable trade that serves the interests of both peoples and business communities.

Ms. Hang noted that this reflects the ongoing strengthening of Vietnam–U.S. relations, particularly meaningful as the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a reduction of the proposed tariff to 10% and a 90-day postponement of reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including Vietnam.

During a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc proposed that the two countries begin negotiations for a long-term bilateral trade agreement to foster stable and mutually beneficial economic relations. This would align with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Mr. Greer responded positively, agreeing to initiate negotiations on a reciprocal trade deal, including tariff discussions. He also called for immediate technical-level talks and praised Vietnam’s proactive measures as a sign of its commitment to advancing bilateral trade ties.

He explained that the high tariff proposal was primarily due to the large trade deficit between the U.S. and Vietnam and outlined the economic pressures behind the Trump administration’s tariff policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, however, asserted that Vietnam had taken significant steps to address the trade imbalance and accommodate U.S. concerns. He argued that imposing a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods would be inconsistent with the spirit of mutually beneficial economic cooperation and would not reflect the essence of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

On April 4, during a phone call, General Secretary To Lam formally invited President Donald Trump and the First Lady to visit Vietnam again. President Trump gladly accepted the invitation and expressed hope for an early reunion with General Secretary To Lam.

Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang also shared that various activities are planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S., including the exchange of high-level delegations. Details of these events will be announced in due course.

Tran Thuong