Vietnam proposes 3-month US tariff enforcement delay for negotiations

The Vietnamese government has suggested that the U.S. delay the imposition of 46% reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese exports for one to three months, in order to facilitate negotiations to seek fairness and mutual benefit for both sides.

This proposal reflects Vietnam’s willingness to negotiate to find common ground between the two countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc during a Friday meeting with leaders from various ministries, business associations, companies, and diplomatic agencies.

The Deputy PM emphasized that Vietnamese and U.S. goods do not compete with each other but rather complement each other. "Vietnam has proactively reviewed and reduced many tax rates, improved the investment environment, and created favorable conditions for businesses to operate."

According to Phoc, Vietnam is always proactive and open and strongly cooperates with the U.S. to negotiate tariffs fairly, combat goods transshipment, and promote bilateral trade for mutual benefits. For example, the Vietnamese government recently issued Decree No. 73/2025/ND-CP which reduces many tax lines on U.S. imports into Vietnam.

Additionally, Vietnam has been actively promoting contracts to purchase goods such as aircraft and LNG, and creating favorable conditions for American companies to invest, produce, and do business in the country.

"Vietnam will continue to implement measures to increase the purchase of raw materials and equipment from the U.S.," he stressed.

Vietnam will also implement solutions to increase the import of goods originating from the U.S. and aims to enhance cooperation with the U.S. in such areas as science, technology, and digital transformation, noted Phoc who will visit the U.S. from Sunday.

The Deputy PM recommended that Vietnamese exporters to the U.S. maintain their prices and await the results of negotiations while proactively taking suitable and effective solutions to "retain this market."

Phoc suggested the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Vietnam and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) convey the goodwill message from the Vietnamese government and business community to the Trump administration, ensuring that the negotiations are successful and contribute to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Retaining U.S. market by all means

At the meeting, representatives from business associations and companies in Vietnam all stressed that the U.S. is an important and leading market and expressed concern about the tariff imposition by the U.S.

They pointed out that Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, seafood, and footwear exports to the U.S. not only meet increasingly higher standards and have a comparative advantage, but also complement the U.S. economy, benefiting American consumers.

Exports from Vietnam to the U.S. are mutually beneficial. The enterprises and business associations affirmed their willingness to increase U.S. imports and provide evidence to prove product origins and production capacity to support the negotiation process, emphasizing the need to "retain this market."

The associations provided practical recommendations for the Vietnamese government to serve negotiations with the U.S., particularly regarding product categories, industries, and the timing of tariff enforcement. They suggested measures to reduce the trade deficit for the U.S.

Representatives from AmCham and USABC praised Vietnam's timely and balanced response to the U.S. tariff imposition announcement. They discussed the advantages of Vietnam and provided advice on necessary actions to promote trade between the two countries, as well as the key topics for negotiation to remove barriers and challenges.

During the meeting, leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance, and other agencies confirmed that Vietnam would continue dialogues and reviews to adjust tariff policies for various groups of goods.

They expressed a desire to import sci-tech and high-tech goods from the U.S. to promote bilateral trade ties. Vietnam should manage exchange rates, interest rates, and credit appropriately to support businesses involved in production, trade, and exports, they noted.

At a press conference on Thursday, Adam Sitkoff, executive director of AmCham Hanoi, praised the Vietnamese government's efforts to engage with the U.S. administration, saying it is very proactive and determined in handling its relationship with the U.S. administration.

There will be continued positive developments in the future, as the Vietnamese are excellent negotiators and President Trump is known for being a dealmaker, said Sitkoff.

According to Vietnam Customs, in 2024, Vietnam exported goods worth $119.5 billion to the U.S. and spent $15.1 billion on imports from this economy. There were 15 items with billion-U.S. dollar export turnovers, of which three dominant groups were computers and components ($23.2 billion), machinery and equipment ($22 billion), and textile ($16.2 billion).