Vietnam and United States deepen trade and energy partnership

Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung visited the United States in July 2026 for a series of meetings aimed at expanding bilateral economic cooperation. He met with Exxon Mobil and GE Vernova to discuss accelerating existing projects and exploring new investments across the oil‑gas, LNG, petrochemical, renewable energy and power‑grid sectors, emphasizing Vietnam's focus on energy security and the transition to wind and solar.

The minister also held talks with U.S. Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick, seeking to advance a fair and balanced trade agreement, move Vietnam out of certain strategic export‑control categories, and secure recognition for additional fisheries professions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In parallel, a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg covered cooperation in high‑technology fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and supply‑chain resilience, with both sides agreeing to facilitate greater investment and business opportunities.

Overall, the delegation, which included senior officials from Vietnam’s ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Science and Technology, and Agriculture and Environment, underscored the strategic nature of the Vietnam‑U.S. partnership and aimed to create a more predictable legal framework for trade and investment.