Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh holds phone conversation with US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer. (Photo: Uyen Huong/BNEWS/VNA)

The two agree that Vietnam - US relations are developing strongly, believing ties between the two countries with the right development orientations, will continue to grow, with economic and trade cooperation being the main driver. Minister Anh voiced his deep concern over the US officially launching investigations into Vietnam’s monetary policy and timber imports and use under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974.

He asked Lighthizer to direct the USTR Office to conduct fair, thorough, and transparent investigations and carefully consider every issue and possible impact of any action in order to make the most objective conclusions, thereby wrapping up the cases without imposing duties on Vietnamese goods.

For his part, the trade representative noted that the USTR Office is still in the investigation process, and has yet to talk about any conclusions with Vietnam. Baseless information regarding the USTR’s plan to impose duties on Vietnamese exports is completely inaccurate, he said.