US, Vietnamese Officials Meet Under Bilateral TIFA

U.S. trade officials underscored the Trump administration’s commitment to expanding ties with the Asia-Pacific region during a meeting with Vietnamese officials March 27 and 28 in Hanoi, according to a press release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (here). Officials from the nations met under the U.S.-Vietnam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to discuss strengthening trade ties and outstanding trade issues, USTR said. The U.S. urged Vietnam to “promptly address” issues related to customs, agriculture, food safety, industrial goods, illegal wildlife trafficking, intellectual property, digital trade, transparency, and “good governance,” USTR said. Officials from both nations agreed to launch working groups focused on resolving bilateral issues, starting with groups on agricultural, food safety, industrial goods, IP, and digital trade issues, USTR said. Vietnam also updated the U.S. on plans to implement labor reforms.