The Prime Minister proposes that the US further open the market for Vietnamese agricultural products

On September 19 (local time), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Washington, D.C., within the framework of the trip to the US to attend the high-level general discussion session of the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

Here, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the success of President Biden's state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Prime Minister also expressed his joy when Vietnam and the US established a comprehensive strategic partnership. Taking the two countries' relationship to a new level has opened a new phase for extensive cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of economics, trade, and investment.

At the same time, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the US Department of Commerce and Secretary Gina Raimondo personally for their practical contributions to boosting commercial coordination between the two countries in recent times.

The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides actively coordinate to quickly realize the agreements of the two countries' senior leaders, including the US’s priority on promoting the roadmap to recognize Vietnam's market economy regulation, further opening the market for Vietnamese goods, such as textiles, footwear, and agricultural products, properly considering the interests of Vietnamese businesses, and not applying trade defense measures to Vietnamese goods on the basis of ensuring balance, equality, and mutual benefit.

The Prime Minister proposed that the two sides create breakthroughs in science and technology cooperation, innovation, education, and training and suggested that the US support Vietnam in building a supply chain related to semiconductor chips.

At the meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the US side affirmed the meaning and importance of the two countries’ establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership framework. Ms. Katherine Tai said that this is an opportunity for the two sides to jointly cooperate to promote economic and trade relations.

Ms. Katherine Tai also mentioned the progress and expressed her hope that Vietnam will continue to participate in supporting efforts to soon conclude negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in order to bring mutual benefits to countries and people in the region.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai recalled her deep impressions when visiting Vietnam and that her visit to Vietnam at the beginning of the year helped her understand a lot more about Vietnam.

She affirmed that the US always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and wants to continue promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The US Trade Representative will play a role in continuing to promote relations between the two countries in the coming time.

Besides, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said US businesses are interested in seeking business and investment opportunities in Vietnam, and she believes that after the conclusion of IPEF discussions, more US businesses and investment funds will inject capital into Vietnam.

After the meeting in Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will go to New York to attend the high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Previously, the Prime Minister also had a meeting with US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack on April 19. During the meeting, the Prime Minister also called on the US to open up the market more for Vietnamese agricultural products; complete the procedures to open the market for Vietnamese agricultural products such as coconut, passion fruit, etc; support the establishment of irradiation facilities in the North of Vietnam to facilitate the export of lychee, mango, pomelo, and dragon fruit; limiting the use of unnecessary tools and technical barriers in agricultural trade with Vietnam; assisting Vietnam in planning and building material areas and meeting US standards on safety and hygiene of agricultural products; encourage and promote US businesses to invest more strongly and diversify more in Vietnam's agriculture.

Promoting agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and the US will contribute to the consumption of agricultural products, creating jobs and livelihoods for farmers, especially in remote areas, areas with consequences of war, Agent Orange, and substantial impacts of climate change.