Post by : Badri Ariffin

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the country remains committed to completing trade negotiations with the United States. At the same time, Hanoi urged Washington to bring its ongoing Section 301 investigation into Vietnam to a close.

The request comes as both countries continue discussions aimed at strengthening trade relations while addressing concerns raised by the United States.

Trade Talks Continue During ASEAN Summit in Manila

The appeal followed a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties and work towards a more balanced trade relationship between the two countries.

Temporary US Tariff Set to Expire

The latest discussions come after more than a year of trade negotiations between Hanoi and the United States, which is Vietnam's largest export market.

A temporary 10% global tariff imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on goods shipped from Vietnam is scheduled to expire on Friday, making the ongoing negotiations particularly significant.

Vietnam Faces Three Separate US Investigations

Vietnam is currently the subject of three separate investigations launched by the Trump administration.

The probes focus on allegations that Vietnam has distorted trade through excess production capacity, violated intellectual property rights, and used goods produced through forced labour.

Vietnam Requests Recognition of Its Efforts

In a statement, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry called on the United States to conclude the Section 301 investigation with a decision that fully recognises Vietnam's efforts in addressing the concerns raised during the review.

Section 301 of U.S. trade law authorises investigations into alleged unfair trade practices by foreign countries.

Vietnam Invites More US Business Investment

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam is prepared to support American companies seeking to expand their investment and business operations in the country.

He said Vietnam is willing to facilitate greater participation by U.S. businesses as economic cooperation between the two nations continues to develop.

US Trade Deficit with Vietnam Continues to Rise

According to Vietnam's government data, the U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam reached $75.3 billion during the first half of this year. The figure represents a 21% increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

The latest trade data highlights the continuing imbalance in bilateral trade as negotiations between the two countries move forward.

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