Deputy PM Ho Duc Phoc to visit the United States and Cuba from April 6 to April 14.
This visit comes amid rising trade tensions following the Trump administration's recent announcement of new countervailing tariffs affecting all nations.
During his visit, Deputy PM Phoc will participate in the High-Level Policy Dialogue at Columbia University, New York, conduct working sessions in the US, and pay an official visit to Cuba.
The visit comes as the US government officially imposed a 46 percent countervailing tariff on Vietnam, one of the highest rates among affected countries.
On April 3, PM Pham Minh Chinh chaired a government meeting with ministries and relevant agencies to discuss immediate and long-term responses to the tariff policy. The PM emphasised that these tariffs do not align with the positive relations between the two nations and urged Vietnam's ministries to adopt a proactive, flexible, and strategic approach. He also announced the formation of a rapid-response task force to address concerns from businesses, particularly major exporters.
In March, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien visited the US as the prime minister's special envoy, meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, DC, to discuss trade relations. The visit resulted in agreements worth USD50 billion, including a USD4.15 billion deal signed on April 13, with another USD36 billion in potential agreements under negotiation.
The newly imposed 46 percent tariff is expected to significantly impact Vietnamese exporters. The US remains Vietnam's largest export market, with bilateral trade accounting for 4.13 percent of total US imports.
In 2024, Vietnam exported USD119.5 billion worth of goods to the US, making up 29.5 percent of the country's total export revenue. Sixteen product categories recorded export values of at least USD1 billion each.
In the first two months of 2025, the US continued to be Vietnam's top export destination, with USD19.56 billion in exports, representing 30 percent of the country's total exports and marking a 16.5 percent year-on-year increase.
