June 2025 marked a new milestone for Vietnam and the US agricultural trade ties when 20 new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth USD 3 billion was signed between between Vietnamese buyers and US agricultural and timber products. This was the result of a trade delegation of nearly 50 Vietnamese agencies, agribusinesses, and associations to the US, led by Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
The initiative reflects Vietnam’s efforts to promote more balanced trade with the US and encourage the removal of steep reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese goods imposed under the Trump Administration. Minister Duy emphasized the complementary nature of the two countries’ agricultural sectors, highlighting growing supply chain integration that benefits producers and consumers on both sides.
US state officials expressed strong support for enhanced cooperation. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and celebrated the agreements as beneficial for local farmers. Ohio’s Secretary of Agriculture, Brian Baldridge, also noted the significant trade potential and called for greater collaboration and the removal of trade barriers to strengthen supply chains.
At a roundtable with the US-ASEAN Business Council, its President Ted Osius expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s import commitments amid a challenging US tariff environment. In turn, Minister Duy reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to regulatory reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and fostering a favorable environment for long-term trade and investment with US enterprises.
Businesses and associations from both countries used this ocasion to call for for continued government support and the removal of the 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports, warning that such measures harm both Vietnamese suppliers and American consumers. They stressed that stable and integrated agri-food supply chains are essential for both nations and contribute to broader global food security.
(Source: Vietnam Investment Review)
