Faced with the threat of reciprocal tariffs of up to 46% from the US, the Vietnamese government is moving quickly to remove technical barriers and open its market to US agricultural, forestry, and seafood products.

Ben Tre pomelo is one of seven types of fruit exported to the United States. Photo: Trong Tung/kinhtedothi.vn

The immediate response is aimed at rebalancing bilateral trade and protecting domestic exporters from potential shocks caused by tariffs.

At a May 9 conference focused on promoting US-Vietnam trade in agriculture, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy jointly urged government agencies to take decisive action.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy co-chair a meeting to promote US-Vietnam trade in agriculture. Photo: MoIT

The ministers emphasized the need to simplify administrative procedures and facilitate market access for US products, demonstrating Vietnam's commitment to supporting a more balanced and sustainable trade relationship.

"Procedures must be simplified to help businesses and industry associations expand trade with the US," said Minister Nguyen Hong Dien.

The US is Vietnam's comprehensive strategic partner and largest export market. In the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam exported $31.4 billion worth of goods to the US while importing $4.1 billion, representing a nearly 20% year-on-year increase in bilateral trade. Vietnam is also the 8th largest trading partner of the US.

Minister Dien said that the US is a major importer of Vietnam’s agricultural and seafood products and a key supplier of items such as grains, meat, dairy, and wood products.

He pointed out that increasing US agricultural imports can promote trade balance initiatives, help meet domestic demand, and strengthen the basis for bilateral trade talks.

"Importing US agricultural products will meet consumer demand in the short term and reduce the imbalance in bilateral trade. In the long term, it lays the foundation for closer cooperation in high-tech, circular, and sustainable agriculture," Dien said.

He also called on Vietnamese enterprises and industry associations to strengthen partnerships with US suppliers. He emphasized the need to build a green, high-value, and sustainable agriculture sector, from production through to processing and consumption.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment are committed to working closely with businesses to implement these initiatives and strengthen bilateral trade.

At the event, Minister Do Duc Duy said the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has launched a strategy to expand agricultural exports to the US. One of the key measures is boosting transparency in the supply chain and raw material zones, supported by digital technology for traceability and quality control.

For the long-term solution, he urged Vietnamese producers to build brands based on compliance and sustainability while emphasizing the importance of green transition programs in agriculture to meet the stricter environmental standards of major markets such as the US, EU, and Japan.