Technical-level negotiations on a fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement between Vietnam and the United States proceeded as scheduled from November 12 to 14 in Washington, D.C.
Following the ministerial-level negotiations on November 10, this marks the next step, showcasing the shared determination of both parties to soon finalize a new bilateral trade cooperation framework aimed at stability, balance, fairness, and sustainability.
According to Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, the 8th ministerial-level negotiation session achieved significant results, paving a clearer path for resolving existing issues. Therefore, this technical round will play a role in "detailed consolidation" and help gradually advance the negotiations towards the final stage.
During the meeting, US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer highly appreciated Vietnam's progress in trade policy reform, institutional improvement, and international integration efforts in recent times. He also acknowledged the positive cooperation spirit of the Vietnamese negotiation team in previous working rounds.
The US side believes that both parties have established a solid foundation through the Joint Statement on the Framework of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement, and this technical round is particularly important to clarify specific technical content, standardize approaches to priority areas, and narrow differences to aim for a balanced agreement for both sides.
Both parties agreed to continue close coordination, enhance exchanges between technical groups, closely follow the directives of senior leaders and ministers of the two countries, and aim to complete the negotiations as soon as possible.
Vietnam and the US are moving towards a new Reciprocal Trade Agreement, emphasizing principles of fair access, balanced benefits, promoting stable trade, and sustainable development.
In the context of the two countries' relations being upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, this Agreement is not only significant in trade but also a crucial pillar to strengthen policy trust, create a long-term framework to expand cooperation in supply chains, services, energy, investment, and new economic fields.
Therefore, the technical round from November 12 to 14 is considered one of the crucial stages to realize the political direction agreed upon by the two ministers, resolve the "difficult technical" part of the negotiations, and create substantial progress towards completing the Agreement.
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