US President Donald Trump has committed to removing Vietnam from a strategic US export control list that restricts access to advanced American technologies, signaling a major step in strengthening bilateral trade.
Trump made the announcement during his first in-person meeting with Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, at the White House on Friday. Lam attended the inaugural session of Trump’s “Board of Peace” in Washington prior to the meeting. According to Hanoi’s Government News portal, Trump said he would “instruct the relevant agencies” to remove Vietnam from the restricted technology list soon.
The move comes amid ongoing US-Vietnam trade negotiations, following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed many of Trump’s earlier tariffs illegal. In response, Trump approved a global 10 percent tariff for all countries but has also worked to ease tensions with Vietnam. Earlier, Hanoi faced some of the highest tariff rates under Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy due to its position as the US’s third-largest trade surplus holder after China and Mexico. In July, Vietnam secured a reduced minimum tariff of 20 percent in exchange for opening its markets to US goods, including automobiles.
The announcement coincides with nearly $37 billion in aircraft purchases by Vietnamese airlines from Boeing. Startup Sun PhuQuoc Airways ordered 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners valued at $22.5 billion, while Vietnam Airlines placed an $8.1 billion order for approximately 50 Boeing 737-8 jets.
Removing Vietnam from the restricted tech list is expected to accelerate technology transfers, boost aviation deals, and strengthen US-Vietnam economic collaboration, signaling a new chapter in bilateral relations and trade expansion.
