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President Donald Trump met with Vietnamese leader To Lam at the White House on Friday, marking their first formal in-person talks and signaling a potential shift in U.S.-Vietnam relations. According to a summary published on the Vietnamese government’s news website, Trump said he would work toward removing Vietnam from U.S. lists that restrict certain countries from accessing advanced American technology.
The meeting comes at a pivotal moment for bilateral ties between Washington and Hanoi. To Lam, head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, was in Washington to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace. His visit underscores Vietnam’s growing diplomatic and economic engagement with the United States, particularly in technology, trade, and aviation.
A key development ahead of the meeting was the announcement of commercial agreements worth more than $30 billion. Under the deals, Vietnamese airlines are set to purchase 90 aircraft from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing. The major aviation order is expected to strengthen trade relations, support American manufacturing jobs, and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
In addition to discussions on technology access and trade, Trump announced a new 10% tariff on most imports from all countries, effective immediately. The move follows a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of his earlier broad-based tariff measures. The new import tariff is expected to have wide-ranging implications for global trade and supply chains.
The White House meeting highlights the strategic importance of U.S.-Vietnam relations, particularly as both nations seek to expand cooperation in advanced technology, defense, and commerce. With trade agreements, aircraft purchases, and potential easing of tech restrictions on the table, the talks could mark a significant step forward in strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between the United States and Vietnam.
