Vietnam Courts U.S. Tech and Energy Giants Amid Tariff Talks

Vietnam’s Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien met with top executives from major U.S. companies, including Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Google, and Excelerate Energy, during a diplomatic trip to Washington focused on avoiding steep U.S. tariffs. The visit coincided with the second round of trade negotiations with the Trump administration, as Vietnam seeks to prevent a proposed 46% tariff on its exports.

The Vietnam News Agency reported that the meetings aim to showcase Hanoi’s commitment to deepening U.S.-Vietnam ties and attracting American investment. Dien emphasized that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is paving the way for smoother U.S. business operations in Vietnam.

Discussions with Lockheed Martin centered on Vietnam’s plans to launch a new-generation communication satellite in late 2026. Previous talks included interest in acquiring C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Dien also welcomed SpaceX’s $1.5 billion Starlink satellite investment and encouraged the company to expand into clean energy, IT, and high-tech workforce training.

Excelerate Energy’s proposal to supply U.S. liquefied natural gas to Vietnam aligns with the country’s long-term energy goals, Dien noted.

Vietnam has been working to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S., which exceeded $123 billion last year. Steps include cutting tariffs on American goods and curbing transshipments of Chinese products. The finance ministry recently revealed plans by Vietnamese firms to build logistics hubs and an industrial park in the U.S. to further enhance bilateral trade and investment.

This proactive strategy underscores Vietnam’s ambition to avoid punitive tariffs while positioning itself as a reliable partner for American businesses in energy, defense, and technology sectors.