Vietnam – US continue to negotiate reciprocal trade agreement

Vietnam – US continue technical negotiations on the Fair and Balanced Reciprocal Trade Agreement, in Washington, DC

From November 12 to November 14, under the direction of Minister Nguyen Hong Dien - Head of the Government's negotiation delegation - and Chief US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the technical round of negotiations on the fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the US continued to be implemented as planned, striving towards positive results.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade , Deputy Head of the Government Negotiation Delegation Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan and Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer. (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

After the ministerial-level negotiation session between Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (afternoon of November 10), on the morning of November 12, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Deputy Head of the Government Negotiation Delegation Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan had a working session with Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer at the headquarters of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), kicking off the technical negotiation sessions.

The working session focused on discussing bilateral economic and trade relations, as well as implementing the results achieved at the 8th Ministerial Negotiation Session to promote negotiations on the Reciprocal Trade Agreement.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan discussed a number of issues surrounding the results of the 8th Ministerial Negotiation Session, agreeing on a number of contents for the two sides' technical negotiation groups to focus on continuing to resolve to ensure the best results.

This is considered an important next step, setting out directions for technical groups in this round of negotiations, demonstrating the commitment of both sides to promoting stable, balanced, fair and sustainable trade cooperation.

Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer acknowledged Vietnam's positive progress in trade policy, institutional reform and international integration commitments as well as the results of recent rounds of negotiations, and affirmed that close cooperation between the two sides will facilitate the negotiation process.

The two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate and increase exchanges between technical groups to promote the negotiation process of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement, in accordance with the direction of the two countries' senior leaders and ministers, towards soon completing the new bilateral trade cooperation framework, contributing to deepening the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On the same afternoon, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien had a working session with Mr. Rock Bordelon, Chairman, and leaders Charles Paddock and Rodrigo Garza Perez of Gulf of America Energy Sourcing LLC (GAES), an American energy corporation headquartered in Louisiana.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien worked with leaders of GAES energy group.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also worked with Mr. Joseph (Joe) Damond, Global President of International Trade Policy and Science at Crowell Global Advisors (CGA). He served as Deputy US Trade Representative (1989-2001) and Chief Negotiator of the Vietnam - US Trade Agreement (1995-2000).

The Minister acknowledged and appreciated the proposals of GAES, affirming that Vietnam encourages participation in the development of infrastructure and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and energy market in Vietnam.

PHAM DUY

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/viet-nam-my-tiep-tuc-dam-phan-hiep-dinh-thuong-mai-doi-ung-ar987114.html