In a significant shift in US–Vietnam relations, US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to remove Vietnam from America’s strategic export control list following high-level discussions at the White House.
According to Vietnam’s official government news portal, Trump assured Vietnamese leader To Lam that he would “instruct the relevant agencies” to move forward with lifting restrictions that have limited Vietnam’s access to advanced US technologies.
The two leaders met face-to-face for the first time in Washington, where Lam attended the inaugural meeting of Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace.” The meeting signals a new chapter in diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two nations.
For Vietnam, being placed on the US strategic export control list has meant tighter scrutiny and restricted access to cutting-edge American technologies — particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. Removing Vietnam from that list could unlock new opportunities in innovation, defense collaboration, and high-tech investment.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of complex trade tensions.
The US and Vietnam had been engaged in prolonged negotiations after the US Supreme Court ruled that many of Trump’s sweeping tariffs were illegal. At the time, Vietnam was among the countries most affected by the administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. In April, Vietnam held the third-largest trade surplus with the United States, after China and Mexico, and faced one of the highest tariff rates imposed during the trade crackdown.
However, by July, Hanoi secured a reduced minimum tariff rate of 20 percent — down from more than 40 percent — in exchange for opening its domestic market to more US goods, including automobiles. The deal was seen as a strategic compromise aimed at stabilizing bilateral trade.
Meanwhile, major commercial agreements have underscored the economic stakes.
Three Vietnamese airlines announced nearly US$37 billion in aircraft purchases from Boeing this week.
-
Sun PhuQuoc Airways placed a US$22.5 billion order for 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, strengthening its long-haul capabilities.
-
Vietnam Airlines committed US$8.1 billion for approximately 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft, reinforcing its regional fleet expansion.
These agreements not only represent a boost for US aerospace manufacturing but also reflect Vietnam’s rapidly growing aviation and tourism sectors.
Trump also signed off on a global 10 percent tariff on all countries shortly after the Supreme Court ruling invalidated several of his previous import levies, adding another layer of complexity to global trade dynamics.
But beyond policy and billion-dollar contracts, this development carries a deeper human impact.
For Vietnamese entrepreneurs, engineers, students, and technology startups, access to advanced US technologies could mean faster innovation, stronger partnerships, and greater global competitiveness. For American manufacturers and exporters, Vietnam represents a dynamic and expanding market in Southeast Asia.
At its core, this move is not just about tariffs or trade balances — it is about two nations recalibrating trust, opportunity, and mutual growth in an increasingly interconnected world.
If implemented, the removal of Vietnam from the export control list may redefine the technological and economic trajectory between Washington and Hanoi for years to come.
