In a press release issued on April 8, AmCham Vietnam – representing over 550 businesses and 2,500 individual members from the U.S. business community in Vietnam – urged the U.S. Government to clearly outline its requirements for the Vietnamese authorities. The organization also called on its members, particularly companies involved in U.S. exports to Vietnam, to put forward concrete proposals to increase the volume of U.S. imports into the Southeast Asian country.

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At Lach Huyen port in Hai Phong city

AmCham Vietnam also welcomed the swift and pragmatic response of the Vietnamese Government to the new U.S. tariffs. The chamber expressed delight at learning about the constructive phone conversation between Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and President Trump on April 4, while appreciating the Party chief’s leadership and pragmatic approach in addressing one of the U.S.’s key concerns regarding “non-reciprocal” tariffs.

The organization believed that continued dialogue between the two governments will create significant opportunities for U.S. exporters, including those in the agricultural sector. The U.S. business community is eager to push for a free trade agreement with Vietnam, which would enhance market access and reduce tariffs, particularly when compared with other nations that already have trade agreements with Vietnam.

Backing the Vietnamese Government’s proposal to delay the enforcement of countervailing tariffs in favor of negotiations, AmCham Vietnam suggested that the U.S. take the time to carefully consider mutually beneficial proposals. It stressed that goodwill negotiations would be more constructive than retaliatory measures. Furthermore, the chamber argued that there is no reason for inflicting severe economic damage on businesses from both nations, particularly those that have invested significantly in trade negotiations and planning. Such harmful actions fail to advance the U.S. administration’s stated short- or long-term objectives, it added.

Source: VNA