Vietnam's Trade Minister, Nguyen Hong Dien, on Wednesday had a phone conversation with the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The phone conversation was said to have kicked off trade talks as whopping 46% US tariffs loom, threatening growth in Southeast Asia's industrial hub.
It will be recalled that the US has paused imposing the 46% reciprocal tariffs on Vietnam until July.
If applied, it could undermine growth in Vietnam, which relies on exports to its top market, the United States, and large investments by foreign manufacturers.
“Vietnam is ready to deal with existing issues on the basis of mutual interests.
“The US side hopes to reach mutual agreement towards a stable and sustainable trade relationship,” the trade minister, who heads the Vietnamese negotiation team said.
The US Trade Representative did not immediately did not make any comment regarding the phone conversation at the time of filing this report.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed officials to combat trade fraud, counterfeiting and other issues of concern for the United States.
DAILY POST reports that Vietnam has the fourth-largest trade surplus among all US trading partners, worth $123.5 billion last year.
