US-Vietnam trade relations and agreements

The trade relationship between the United States and Vietnam has shown significant growth and movement toward formal structural agreements. In 2025, U.S. agricultural exports to Vietnam reached $5.7 billion, establishing Vietnam as the eighth-largest market for American agricultural products. To promote this trade, various organizations held culinary events in Hanoi to showcase products such as beef, poultry, and seafood.

Building on this commercial foundation, the two nations are currently nearing a new trade agreement intended to establish a ‘reciprocal, balanced, and fair tariff structure.’ During discussions at the UN General Assembly, Vietnamese leader To Lam indicated that Vietnam seeks to reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. by increasing imports of high-tech goods, including aircraft, energy projects, and railway infrastructure. To Lam also addressed trade integrity, stating that Vietnam does not accept the transshipment of goods and requires products to have ‘transparent origins’ and ‘genuine production’ to be recognized as Vietnamese.