As part of a working trip to the United States, a 50-member delegation led by Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy held a productive meeting on June 2 in the state of Iowa.
The visit comes when the two governments actively push negotiations toward the early signing of a Vietnam - U.S. reciprocal trade agreement in the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the event, Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized: "We look forward to concluding agreements with harmonized terms that bring mutual benefits. This is an excellent opportunity to elevate bilateral agricultural trade cooperation."
Ms. Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa, welcomes Minister Do Duc Duy. Photo: Negotiation delegation.He affirmed that the Vietnamese government highly values and continues to promote a comprehensive strategic partnership with the United States across all sectors, with agriculture considered a key economic pillar that significantly impacts both sides' businesses, producers, and consumers.
Through cooperation forums, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment aims to provide transparent and comprehensive information on Vietnam's agricultural development strategies, creating favorable conditions for U.S. businesses to identify investment opportunities and expand their market presence.
The next goal is to strengthen collaboration with the federal government, U.S. states, and business communities to advance Vietnam's agriculture in an ecological, smart, circular, and sustainable direction.
Reflecting on the meeting, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig praised Vietnam's strong commitment to importing agricultural products from Iowa, such as dried distiller grains, corn, soybeans, and ethanol.
"This is not just about new trade deals, but about deepening relationships between enterprises and organizations", Mr. Naig stressed. He hoped both sides would continue sharing information, innovating technologies, and promoting agricultural development - contributing to disseminating experience, innovation, and solutions to global challenges.
Minister Do Duc Duy speaks to the press after a working session with the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
Photo: Negotiation delegation.Since establishing the Vietnam - U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2023, opportunities for trade and investment between the two nations have expanded significantly, especially in agricultural trade.
The U.S and Vietnam are major agricultural producers specializing in complementary - not competing - in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products. With strong cooperation between the two governments, agricultural ties between Vietnam and the U.S. have grown closer, sharing supply chains, enhancing competitiveness, and delivering tangible benefits to producers, processors, exporters, and consumers alike.
Over the past decade, bilateral agricultural trade between Vietnam and the U.S. has grown at an average annual rate of 10%. The U.S. is currently Vietnam's largest agricultural export market. In 2024, Vietnam's agricultural exports to the U.S. reached a record high of USD 13.68 billion, while imports from the U.S. totaled USD 3.4 billion. The potential for further bilateral agricultural trade cooperation remains vast.