The comments were made by experts at the event titled "USSEC 30 years in Vietnam: Sustainable solutions with US Soybeans" - a special event organized by the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to honor the sustainable relationship and the role of cooperation in developing the food, animal feed and livestock industries of Vietnam. 

Celebrating 30 years of cooperation between the US and Vietnam soybean industry, with the theme "USSEC 30 years in Vietnam: Sustainable solutions with US soybeans".

Evolving cooperation based on trust

The event brought together leading agricultural enterprises, technical experts and sustainability activists from Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region. The program included keynote speeches, panel discussions and interactive sessions around sustainable food and feed solutions. A strategic roundtable on sustainability was also held, highlighting shared goals in climate-smart agriculture, responsible supply chains and long-term resilience - demonstrating the commitment of both Vietnamese and US partners to cooperation, innovation and environmental protection.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Chairman of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD-VCCI) said that Vietnam always considers the United States as a leading important partner; at the same time, he wishes to promote economic, trade and investment relations with the United States in a comprehensive and sustainable manner, contributing to enhancing understanding and strategic trust between the two countries. According to the Vice Chairman of VCCI, over the years, the United States has always been one of the major investment partners in Vietnam, with more than 1,150 active projects, total registered investment capital of more than 10.4 billion USD, ranking 11th out of 139 economies investing in Vietnam. Most of the major US corporations are present and have effectively invested in Vietnam. In addition, the United States is gradually becoming a source of machinery, equipment, science-technology, and energy products for Vietnam. Regarding agricultural products, Vietnam is currently the 9th largest export market of the United States. Products such as beef, pork, chicken, seafood, milk, soybeans, corn, grapes, apples, cherries, blueberries, etc. from the United States are also very popular with Vietnamese consumers. "Over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States, cooperation between the two countries has become increasingly comprehensive and extensive, including in the agricultural sector. The import turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products from the United States has increased from 2.2 billion USD in 2023 to 2.76 billion USD in 2024. Also in 2024, Vietnam imported nearly 1.5 billion USD worth of corn, soybeans and raw materials for animal feed production from the United States.

And recently, during the working trip of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to the United States, Vietnam reached a total agreement to purchase US agricultural products worth nearly 3 billion USD. These are figures that demonstrate the potential for trade cooperation between the two countries," said Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh.

The Vice Chairman of VCCI affirmed that events such as the Workshop organized by USSEC will contribute to promoting understanding of the business environment, while strengthening business cooperation between the Vietnamese and US business communities.

30-year milestone of companionship and development

In the field of soybeans and animal feed, experts shared that over the past decades, US soybean farmers and the animal feed, food processing, and aquaculture industries in Vietnam have built a sustainable relationship, focusing on improving farming techniques, sharing knowledge, and promoting sustainability.

Representatives of the Vietnam Sustainable Development Partnership Office and the US Soybean Export Council signed a memorandum of understanding to promote soybean trade from the US to Vietnam

“It is impressive to witness the strong growth of the food and feed industry in Vietnam,” said Mr. Timothy Loh, Director of Southeast Asia and Oceania, USSEC. “This milestone marks three decades of cooperation between Vietnam and the US Soybean Export Council.

Vietnam is currently the third largest importer of US soybeans in Southeast Asia and the 13th largest consumer of soybeans in the world. In 2023/24, Vietnam is estimated to import approximately 2.2 million tons of whole soybeans and 5.9 million tons of soybean meal to meet growing demand.

A rapidly modernizing animal feed industry and soybean crushing plants in Vietnam are opening up more opportunities for US soybeans, supporting domestic production of pork, poultry, seafood and soybean oil products. These trends are driven by urbanization, a growing middle class and changing consumer preferences toward a high-protein diet.

Vietnam is currently the sixth largest pork producer and the fourth largest seafood producer in the world. The seafood industry alone contributes from 4–5% of the country’s GDP. Soybeans have become an important ingredient in aquafeeds, providing a high-quality plant protein source to support the continued growth of the industry. As demand increases, soybean meal consumption is forecast to increase to 6 million tons by 2025, reflecting a recovery in feed demand and long-term market momentum.

At the same time, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly interested in plant-based products and soy foods. The superior nutritional profile, clear traceability, and commitment to sustainability make U.S. Soybeans an ideal choice to meet these changing needs.

Vietnam-US agricultural trade is growing. In early June 2025, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy and the Vietnamese delegation visited the US and signed agricultural import agreements worth nearly 3 billion USD, including corn, soybeans, meat and wood materials... Vietnam and the US both have strengths in agriculture, but they complement each other rather than compete directly. The US can be strong in temperate agriculture, large-scale production with typical products such as corn, soybeans, wheat, livestock products, temperate fruits; Meanwhile, Vietnam is strong in tropical agricultural products such as industrial crops (coffee, cashew, pepper, rubber), tropical fruits, etc. According to experts, with strong support from both governments, agriculture in Vietnam and the United States is becoming more connected and sharing a common supply chain, helping to increase competitiveness and bring benefits to producers and consumers in both countries. Agricultural exports from the two countries to each other have grown steadily at 10% over the past 10 years.

Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan - Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment - affirmed that agriculture between the two countries is complementary, does not compete directly and has formed a common supply chain.

Therefore, any action that interferes with trade, especially the imposition of tariffs, has a negative impact on both sides.

"If the US imposes high reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese agricultural products, making these products less competitive or facing difficulties in exporting, the US side will also be affected accordingly, as it will not be able to bring goods into Vietnam," said Mr. Tuan.

Marking a new chapter in the agricultural cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, the Partnership for Sustainable Development Vietnam (PSAV) - under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, together with the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within the framework of the conference to strengthen trade relations, promote industry cooperation and support Vietnamese businesses to access high-quality, sustainably produced soybean products from the United States. The MOU outlines efforts to strengthen Vietnam's agricultural sector by facilitating trade, promoting technical cooperation and raising awareness of US soybean sustainability programs such as the US Soybean Sustainability Assurance Program (SSAP).

The signing of the MoU between the Office of Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) on the occasion of USSEC's 30th anniversary in Vietnam is a clear demonstration of the joint efforts of the public and private sectors to connect businesses of the two countries, promote agricultural trade and connect agricultural supply chains between the two countries.

The signing and implementation of this MoU will contribute positively to the comprehensive strategic partnership, for the mutual benefit and prosperity of Vietnam and the United States on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - United States diplomatic relations.