This morning, Ambassador Kirk gave opening remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce/U.S.-ASEAN Business Council breakfast honoring Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung.
Ambassador Kirk and Vietnamese Prime Minister Dzung
Read an excerpt of the statement released after the breakfast and the Ambassador’s full prepared remarks here.
“The gains to Vietnam from economic reform and trade liberalization are resoundingly clear on the streets of that country today.
And our bilateral trade and investment has brought tremendous benefits to the United States as well.
U.S. exports to Vietnam have tripled since Vietnam joined the WTO and in 2009, the United States became the largest foreign investor in Vietnam.
Even with this impressive record of success, this relationship has considerable untapped potential.
We have found willing and able partners in Vietnam. And we will continue to undertake a robust agenda to strengthen and deepen the relationship.”
Vietnam is currently the United States’ 30th largest goods trading partner with $15.4 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2009. Goods exports totaled $3.1 billion; Goods imports totaled $12.3 billion. The U.S. good trade deficit with Vietnam was $9.2 billion in 2009.
