HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam and the United States have nearly completed negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement after seven official rounds of talks since April 2025, Vietnamese officials announced this week, leaving only a small number of technical issues unresolved as the two countries work toward a final deal.

Ngo Chung Khanh, deputy director of Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade's Department of Foreign Market Development and Multilateral Trade, disclosed the progress during a ministry briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The two sides had completed most of the substantive negotiating work, with remaining matters requiring further technical clarification, according to the Vietnamese government's account published Oct. 8.

Reuters reported Thursday that the negotiations were largely complete but that discussions would continue on outstanding issues before the agreement could be signed and implemented.

No signing date or final text of the agreement was announced.

Vietnam and U.S. Move Closer to Trade Agreement

The proposed Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade is intended to establish a more predictable framework for commercial relations between Vietnam and the United States.

Since negotiations began in April 2025, the two countries have held seven official rounds of talks and additional discussions at the ministerial and technical levels, according to Vietnam's trade ministry.

Khanh said Vietnamese officials expected close coordination with relevant U.S. agencies, particularly the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), to help resolve the remaining issues.

The ministry expressed hope that the agreement could be finalized and signed soon, although it did not specify which technical questions remained unresolved.

High-Level Talks Highlight Progress

Negotiating progress followed high-level discussions between senior Vietnamese and American officials in September.

Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York on Sept. 21, where both sides discussed efforts to advance bilateral trade relations.

Lam emphasized Vietnam's commitment to strengthening economic and investment ties and said the country had increased efforts to import more American goods to help address the trade imbalance.

Greer welcomed Vietnam's efforts and acknowledged progress toward an agreement, according to the Vietnamese government's account of the September meeting.

The Vietnamese leader also raised outstanding trade issues, including U.S. investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The September meeting underscored the importance of trade negotiations to the broader economic relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam's Trade Surplus With U.S. Reaches $122.62 Billion

The negotiations carry significant economic implications for Vietnam, whose manufacturing and export sectors depend heavily on international markets.

The United States remained Vietnam's largest export destination during the first nine months of 2026, with Vietnamese shipments to the American market reaching approximately $140 billion.

Vietnam's trade surplus with the United States reached $122.62 billion during the same period, representing an increase of 23.8% from a year earlier, according to official trade figures published by the Vietnamese government, citing the National Statistics Office.

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The figures highlight the scale of Vietnam's exposure to U.S. demand and the importance of future trade arrangements for manufacturers and exporters.

They also illustrate the imbalance in bilateral merchandise trade that American negotiators have sought to address through tariffs and market-access commitments.

Earlier U.S. Framework Outlined 20% Reciprocal Tariff

The latest negotiating developments follow a trade framework announced by Washington in October 2025.

Under the framework outlined by USTR, the United States said it would maintain a 20% reciprocal tariff on imports from Vietnam while identifying certain products eligible for a zero-percent reciprocal tariff rate.

Vietnam, meanwhile, was expected to remove tariffs on almost all American goods, including agricultural products, to expand access for U.S. exporters.

The framework also addressed non-tariff trade barriers, intellectual property protections, digital trade, services, investment and supply chain cooperation.

However, the October 2025 framework did not constitute the finalized agreement now under negotiation. Vietnamese officials did not disclose revised tariff provisions or other final commitments in their latest announcement.

Any changes to tariff treatment, product exemptions or implementation schedules will require confirmation when the agreement's final terms become public.

What the Agreement Could Mean for Businesses

A finalized agreement could provide greater certainty for companies operating between Vietnam and the United States, particularly those involved in manufacturing, international sourcing and export-oriented investment.

Clearer trade rules could help manufacturers assess costs, establish long-term supply arrangements and plan production investments.

American businesses could also benefit from expanded opportunities in Vietnam if the final agreement reduces import barriers and improves access to the domestic market.

However, the potential gains would depend on the final provisions and their implementation.

Tariffs could continue to create cost pressures for affected exporters, while increased competition from American imports could pose challenges for some Vietnamese producers.

For companies and investors, the agreement's eventual tariff rates, regulatory requirements and market-access provisions will be important factors in assessing its economic impact.

What Happens Next?

Vietnamese officials expect further coordination with the USTR and other U.S. agencies to resolve the remaining technical matters.

Despite the reported progress, neither a final signing date nor a complete agreement text was announced in the latest Vietnamese government statement.

The next milestone will be confirmation that both sides have concluded negotiations, followed by publication of the agreed terms and information on signing and implementation.

For Vietnam, the outcome could influence trade costs, manufacturing decisions and relations with its largest export market. For the United States, the agreement forms part of a broader effort to improve access for American exporters and address bilateral trade imbalances.