Vietnam-US Tax Technical Negotiations: Positive Signals for the Future

From November 12–14, 2025, in Washington, D.C., the technical negotiation round on the Fair and Balanced Reciprocal Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the United States continued to be implemented as planned…

This is the next step right after the Ministerial-level negotiation session on November 10, demonstrating the common determination of both sides in soon completing the new bilateral trade cooperation framework, towards stability – balance – fairness – sustainability.

TECHNICAL NEGOTIATIONS ROUND IS A KEY STAGE

Immediately after the meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Chief US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the afternoon of November 10, the two countries’ negotiating teams quickly entered the technical phase – a “detailed processing” phase to resolve differences.

On the morning of November 12, at the headquarters of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Deputy Head of the Government Negotiation Delegation, had a working session with Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer to kick off the technical negotiation round.

The meeting focused on: implementing the results achieved at the Ministerial session on November 10, reviewing the progress of each technical group and agreeing on key contents to continue handling in the negotiation round of November 12-14.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, the 8th Ministerial-level negotiation session has achieved many important results, opening up a clearer direction for dealing with the remaining issues. Therefore, this technical round will play the role of “consolidating details” and helping to gradually move the negotiations to the final stage.

At the meeting, Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer highly appreciated the process of trade policy reform, institutional improvement and international integration efforts of Vietnam in recent times. He also acknowledged the spirit of active cooperation of the Vietnamese negotiation delegation in previous working rounds.

The US side believes that the two sides have created a very good foundation through the Joint Statement on the Framework of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement, and this technical round has a particularly important role in: clarifying specific technical contents, standardizing approaches to priority areas, narrowing differences to move towards a balanced agreement for both sides.

The two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate, increase exchanges between technical groups, closely follow the instructions of senior leaders and Ministers of the two countries, and aim to complete negotiations as soon as possible.

Immediately after the working session between Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan and Mr. Rick Switzer, the two countries’ specialized groups immediately entered into detailed discussion sessions as planned.

Vietnam and the United States are moving towards a new Reciprocal Trade Agreement, emphasizing the principles of: fair access, balanced interests, promoting stable trade and sustainable development.

In the context of the two countries’ relationship being upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, this Agreement is not only meaningful in trade but also an important pillar to strengthen policy trust, creating a long-term framework to expand cooperation in supply chains, services, energy, investment and new economic sectors.

Therefore, the technical round from November 12-14 is considered one of the key stages to realize the political orientation that the two Ministers agreed on, to resolve the “difficult technical” part of the negotiations, and to create a substantial step towards completing the Agreement.

INCREASING BILATERAL MEETINGS WITH US BUSINESSES

In parallel with the technical negotiations, on the afternoon of November 12, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien had a series of important meetings with US businesses and policy consulting organizations – entities that play a significant role in bilateral economic cooperation.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien worked with Mr. Rock Bordelon, Chairman of Gulf of America Energy Sourcing LLC (GAES), and leaders Charles Paddock and Rodrigo Garza Perez.

GAES is a US energy corporation headquartered in Louisiana. At the meeting, the Minister acknowledged and highly appreciated GAES’s cooperation proposals, especially in the development of LNG infrastructure, liquefied natural gas market, and new energy projects in Vietnam.

The Minister affirmed that Vietnam strongly encourages LNG projects to supplement clean energy supply, diversify the power system, and be consistent with the emission reduction strategy.

On the same day, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also worked with Mr. Joseph “Joe” Damond, Global President of International Trade Policy and Science at Crowell Global Advisors (CGA) – a senior expert on international trade.

Having made important contributions to shaping Vietnam – US trade relations over the past three decades, Mr. Damond served as Deputy US Trade Representative (1989-2001), Head of the Vietnam – US Trade Agreement negotiation delegation for the period 1995-2000.

At the meeting, the CGA Global Chairman shared many policy perspectives related to the negotiation process of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement and assessed that Vietnam is on the right track in reform and integration.

With a spirit of frank and constructive cooperation, the ongoing technical negotiation round in Washington is expected to achieve substantive results, creating a foundation for the two sides to move closer to a new Reciprocal Trade Agreement, where interests are balanced, policy access is transparent, trade in goods and services is promoted sustainably and the Vietnam-US relationship continues to be deepened in the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The technical negotiation on November 12-14 is not only a scheduled working session, but also a step to strengthen trust, affirming the commitment of both countries in building a modern, fair and suitable trade framework for the long-term interests of both sides.

Source: Electronic Magazine