Overview

• Vietnam and the US initiated formal negotiations to address the Trump-era threat of a 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports, with a 90-day reprieve in place.
• Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer agreed on a roadmap and principles for the talks during a high-level call on April 24.
• Vietnam Airlines and Vietcombank signed a provisional deal to finance the purchase of 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, advancing prior commitments to boost US trade ties.
• Vietnam has pledged to address US concerns over trade fraud, including origin labeling, smuggling, and counterfeit goods, as part of its broader compliance efforts.
• Analysts suggest Vietnam may explore purchasing Lockheed F-16 fighter jets to further reduce its $123.5 billion trade surplus with the US.