Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held talks with US Congressman Adrian Smith in Washington D.C. on November 13, seeking to advance Vietnam-US trade negotiations and expand imports of American agricultural products.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien hopes to establish practical cooperation mechanisms with the state of Nebraska.

Smith, a Republican representing Nebraska, serves as Chair of the US House Subcommittee on Trade and is a key voice for the US agricultural sector. The meeting focused on the potential, prospects and recent progress in Vietnam-US economic cooperation, including with the state of Nebraska.

Dien said that since Vietnam and the US launched reciprocal trade negotiations earlier this year, Vietnam has committed to importing a range of American products.

Vietnamese businesses, he noted, are particularly interested in high-quality corn from US states - an essential input for seed production and ethanol processing used in biofuel, a key element of Vietnam’s sustainable energy strategy. Beef from Nebraska has also gained strong popularity among Vietnamese consumers.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam and Nebraska could establish practical cooperation mechanisms in areas of shared interest, thereby helping deepen bilateral economic and trade ties.

Since the start of the year, Vietnam’s imports from the US have risen sharply: cotton by 126%, seafood by 8%, and corn and soybeans by 35%. Vietnam has also signed multiple aircraft purchase contracts with US manufacturers.

Acknowledging the existing trade imbalance between the two countries, Dien said that removing Vietnam from the US’s D1/D3 list - the group of countries restricted in accessing certain high-tech products - would provide an important basis for achieving more balanced trade.

Dien called on Smith, given his strong political influence and deep understanding of trade and agriculture, to support Vietnam during the negotiation process.

He encouraged the Congressman to act as a bridge fostering cooperation between Vietnam and the US, especially in areas of Nebraska’s strengths such as agriculture, aviation and biotechnology.

Smith welcomed Dien’s visit and message, expressing confidence that recent positive developments create favourable conditions to boost bilateral trade cooperation. He praised Vietnam’s efforts to promote trade balance, particularly its increased corn purchases for biofuel production.

Having previously visited Vietnamese agricultural and seafood facilities, he affirmed the strong potential for expanding imports of US raw materials.

He expressed his hope that both sides would soon conclude reciprocal trade negotiations and that the agreement would generate meaningful benefits for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

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