Vietnam, Oregon state foster cooperation in agriculture and environment

On September 9 in Hanoi, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang welcomed and worked with the delegation from the Oregon House of Representatives (U.S.), led by Mr. Daniel Nguyen.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang affirmed that 2025 marks an important milestone, celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S. Over nearly three decades, bilateral ties have developed comprehensively and, since 2023, have been officially elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"We believe that the thriving cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. will continue to be strengthened, delivering benefits to the people and businesses of both countries, particularly in the fields of agriculture and environment," Mr. Thang emphasized.

Bilateral cooperation potential

Vietnam values and highly appreciates its cooperation with the U.S. in the agro-forestry-fishery and environment sectors. Numerous collaborative activities have been effectively implemented, not only with the U.S. Department of Agriculture but also extended to states such as Washington and California. Recently, Vietnamese agricultural businesses and commodity associations have signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with soybean and corn associations from Iowa, Ohio, Maryland, and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) to promote bilateral trade.

On the Oregon side, Mr. Daniel Nguyen noted that Oregon is the second-largest agricultural state in the U.S., cultivating around 120 types of crops and producing key commodities such as beef, grains, and animal feed. Each year, approximately 40% of Oregon's agricultural output is exported to international markets. The state also takes the lead in innovation, sustainable development, and climate change response through close collaboration between businesses, research institutions, and educational organizations.

Expanding agricultural trade

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that trade is a key driver in strengthening bilateral relations. Vietnam currently imports a significant volume of agricultural products, animal feed, and raw materials from around the world each year, but only USD 1.5 billion of this comes from the U.S. Since March 2025, the Government of Vietnam has adjusted import tariffs on corn and soybeans to 0%, opening up substantial opportunities for U.S. businesses, including those from Oregon. The Acting Minister noted that this is an opportunity for Oregon to increase its exports to the Vietnamese market.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam is ready to sign an MOU with the government of Oregon on agricultural development cooperation, agricultural trade promotion, and enhanced exchanges in research, development, and green, sustainable agriculture.

In addition, in the field of resource management, the U.S. Government has supported Vietnam with numerous technical projects through USAID. Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang proposed expanding cooperation with Oregon to include sharing disaster risk management policies; researching and applying technology for forecasting and early warning; ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation; as well as exchanges and collaboration in education, training, and technology transfer.

Concluding the meeting, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang expressed confidence that the visit of the Oregon House of Representatives delegation, led by Mr. Daniel Nguyen, would elevate agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Oregon to a new level, commensurate with both sides' significant potential.

Information about the State of Oregon - U.S.

Oregon is located in the Pacific Northwest region, with Salem as its capital and Portland as its largest city. Covering an area of 255,000 km² and a population of 4.2 million, Oregon recorded a GDP of over USD 234 billion in 2022, with household income above the national average. Trade plays an important role in Oregon's economy, ranking sixth in the U.S. for per capita export value.

Currently, Oregon is home to around 30,000 Vietnamese, mainly in Portland. The overseas Vietnamese community is active in various sectors, from small business ownership to employment in major corporations, agricultural production, and winemaking; approximately 15% of them have annual incomes exceeding USD 250,000.