On his second day in Hanoi, Deputy United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis conducted intensive discussions with Vietnamese government officials on a wide range of regional and bilateral issues. The United States and Vietnam have seen tremendous growth in their bilateral economic relationship in recent years, with two-way trade expanding from $1 billion in 2001 to $15.4 billion in 2009. Ambassador Marantis and Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem acknowledged this growth in their meeting today and emphasized the importance of continued progress, including through the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which the United States, Vietnam and six other Asia-Pacific economies are negotiating.
Ambassador Marantis also met with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang. They discussed their goals for the second round of TPP negotiations, to be held in San Francisco during the week of June 15, and how to develop it into a high-standard, 21st century regional trade agreement. He also underscored important bilateral issues affecting industrial goods, agricultural goods, and intellectual property. Ambassador Marantis continued his discussion of key agricultural issues with Minister of Agriculture Development Cao Duc Phat. In particular, Ambassador Marantis highlighted the significant benefits of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship and the importance of Vietnam as an export market for U.S. agricultural goods. He also raised specific market access issues, including ensuring full access to U.S. beef consistent with international science and concerns over a pending regulation on the import of fresh and frozen animal products.
Ambassador Marantis also delivered remarks at a lunch co-hosted by AmCham Hanoi and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.
Ambassador Marantis speaks to business leaders in Hanoi, Vietnam
Yesterday, Ambassador Marantis held meetings with Vice Minister Pham Minh Huan, of the Ministry of Labor. There, Ambassador Marantis emphasized the need for Vietnam to continue to work closely with the International Labor Organization and the United States as it works to meet internationally recognized worker rights, especially the freedom or association and collective bargaining.
