HANOI:  , Vietnam expects to mark pacts with the United States this week after its business secretary meets US industry and electricity officials, according to a state record reviewed by Reuters.
The move comes after weeks of diplomatic messages Vietnam has sent Washington in an effort to minimize tariffs by the Trump presidency, the Southeast Asian nation may experience because of its huge trade surplus with the United States.
The Mar 5 report from the business department features the routine of Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien’s trip to the United States this year.
It also listed energy firms and government sections, from customs to duty, asked to send following representatives.
Last week the government said on its portal Dien, who is also in charge of energy and industry policy, would travel to the United States on Thursday ( Mar 13 ) to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
But it gave no particulars of probable discounts or topics to be discussed.
Authorities have publicly indicated Vietnam’s intention to buy US liquefied natural gas for its fledgling business and to possibly update duties on some imports, from alcohol and Gas to crops products.
Trading firm PetroVietnam Gas, power generator PetroVietnam Power and power distributor EVN are among the state-controlled gas and energy companies asked to send delegates on Dien’s U. S. trip, the ministry document shows.
The event is part of regular meetings between US and Vietnamese trade officials under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2007.
Dien is set to first meet Greer on Thursday, before working with officials of the U. S. energy department and witnessing the signing of” a number of agreements” the following day, the document showed.
Then he will meet officials of the commerce department and industry groups with “interests in Vietnam”, it added, but did not say if the meetings were listed according to times in the United States or Vietnam, which could affect the days.