Vietnam Proposes U.S. Tariff Exemption for Seafood, Cashew, Coffee, and Pepper
During Deputy Prime Minister Hồ Đức Phớc’s working trip to the U.S., Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoàng Trung proposed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant tariff exemptions for certain essential agricultural and aquaculture products that do not directly compete with U.S. goods, such as seafood, cashew nuts, pepper, fruits and vegetables, and coffee.
At a meeting on April 9, Deputy Minister Hoàng Trung emphasized that the USDA is a reliable partner of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and its farmers, expressing a desire to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides, according to Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN).
He stated that since the 2024 meeting, the Ministry has implemented its commitments with the U.S. side. It is currently finalizing risk assessments (PRA) and legal procedures so that American mandarins, plums, and seedless lemons can enter Vietnam in 2025.
The Ministry has also authorized the use of all genetically modified organism (GMO) dossiers for animal feed purposes. Mr. Trung urged the U.S. to soon open its market to Vietnamese passion fruit.
Earlier, the Vietnamese government issued Decree 73/2025/NĐ-CP to adjust preferential import taxes for several products. Tariffs on wood and wood products were reduced from 15–25% to 0%, and corn and soybeans from 2% to 0%, making it easier for U.S. exporters to access the Vietnamese market.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the U.S.’s planned imposition of countervailing duties of up to 46% on Vietnamese goods—a move that could significantly impact Vietnamese farmers and businesses, as well as U.S. consumers and enterprises.
Mr. Trung noted that Vietnamese agricultural products are high-quality and reasonably priced. He reiterated Vietnam’s proposal for tax exemptions on essential, non-directly competing products such as seafood, cashew, pepper, fruits and vegetables, and coffee.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jason Hafemeister expressed support for Vietnam’s proposals and revealed that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is scheduled to visit Vietnam in May to further promote bilateral agricultural cooperation.
Regarding wood products, he praised Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for closely coordinating with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to fulfill commitments under the agreement on controlling illegal logging and timber trade.
The Vietnamese government has also issued Decree 77/2025/NĐ-CP, which outlines the authority and procedures for establishing state ownership and handling related assets.
The Ministry is also drafting a circular guiding the handling of confiscated timber in line with the agreement and is cooperating closely with relevant agencies to verify origins and prevent trade fraud.
Based on these efforts, Deputy Minister Hoàng Trung urged the U.S. to consider Vietnam’s positive progress and conclude the investigation into illegal logging and timber trade.
In addition to the meeting with Deputy Secretary Hafemeister, the Vietnamese delegation held technical discussions with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service on implementing a project for proper fertilizer use to enhance cultivation efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice production.
The delegation also met with the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to promote two-way agricultural market access.
Source: Saigon Times Online
