Hanoi (VNA) – Market access for agricultural products is a top priority for Vietnam and the US with significant progress made, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan told visiting the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor at their meeting in Hanoi on September 12.

Tan said the US has allowed the import of fresh coconuts from Vietnam and is in the final steps of granting similar permission for Vietnamese passion fruits. Meanwhile, Vietnam has opened its market for US grapefruits, peaches, and nectarines. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the USDA are finalising procedures for other products, such as oranges, tangerines, plums, and seedless lemons.

The deputy minister affirmed that the US is a key partner of Vietnam and expressed his strong desire to further strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

He emphasised that the elevation of the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive strategic partnership opened up numerous opportunities for cooperation across all fields, including economic and trade sectors.

Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), will continue to actively cooperate with the US to comprehensively address the concerns of both countries, thereby maintaining stable trade relations and working towards a balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trade ties, the official stressed.

He went on to talk about Vietnam’s orientation on the use of biofuels, emphasising that this is a priority area for the Vietnamese Government. Tan called for the US's support in investing technical and technological resources to promote the production and use of biofuels in Vietnam and help it fulfil its commitments at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26).

The deputy minister also raised concerns about the US’s increasing trade defence investigations against Vietnamese goods, including some agricultural products, and requested that the USDA make proposals to the US Department of Commerce (DOC) regarding careful and reasonable consideration in handling these cases. The US official assured that she would discuss Vietnam’s concerns with the DOC.

Agreeing with the MoIT’s viewpoints, Taylor proposed that both sides should continue to enhance related processes to further open markets for a wider range of fruits. She also urged Vietnam to create favourable conditions for the import of certain plant products and animal feed from the US and for plant quarantine procedures.

Furthermore, the USDA delegation expressed its wish to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of biofuels and ethanol in the time to come.

ܫ Taylor also expressed sympathy for the loss of life and property caused by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam and affirmed the US's commitment to support Vietnam in its response to natural disasters and climate change./.