General Secretary and President To Lam meets with Ambassador Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Photo: TTXVN

Negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement with Vietnam have made substantial progress and are "very close to a final outcome," according to United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

On September 21 in New York, General Secretary and State President To Lam received Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative, on the sidelines of his working visit to attend the High-Level General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to VNA.

Ambassador Greer assessed that the negotiating teams for a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement have exerted great efforts, achieving significant strides to date and coming "very close to a final outcome".

According to the U.S. Trade Representative, once signed and implemented, this trade pact will unlock further opportunities and avenues for bilateral cooperation.

General Secretary and State President To Lam welcomed the highly positive results achieved by both sides toward the early conclusion of the agreement. In his view, this pact will establish a stable, enduring framework for Vietnam–US economic, trade, and investment ties.

The General Secretary and State President also urged the United States to adopt a comprehensive approach to pending trade issues, including matters related to investigations under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974.

Section 301 authorizes the USTR to investigate and take responsive action against foreign trade practices, policies, or acts deemed unfair or burdensome to US commerce.

During the meeting, General Secretary and State President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam views economic, trade, and investment cooperation as one of the most vital pillars of its bilateral relations with the United States. He expressed his desire for both nations to continue fostering substantive economic, trade, and investment ties that bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

He noted that Vietnam has recently increased procurement of US goods to steer two-way trade toward greater balance, while generating additional purchase orders and employment opportunities for businesses and workers in both nations.

Vietnam and the United States elevated their diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023. General Secretary and State President To Lam reaffirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to this partnership framework and looks forward to working alongside President Donald Trump’s administration to continue developing bilateral ties in a stable, substantive, effective, and sustainable manner.

Source: VnExpress