During Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc's working trip to the US, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung proposed that the US Department of Agriculture exempt taxes on a number of essential agricultural and aquatic products that do not directly compete, such as seafood, cashews, pepper, vegetables, and coffee. At the meeting on April 9, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said that the US Department of Agriculture is a reliable partner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Vietnamese farmers, and hopes that the two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation, VNA reported. Mr. Hoang Trung said that since the meeting in 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has implemented its commitments with the US side. The Ministry is urgently completing the risk assessment (PRA) and legal procedures so that US seedless tangerines, plums, and lemons can enter Vietnam in 2025. The Ministry has also granted permission to use all records of genetically modified events for animal feed. Mr. Trung suggested that the US side soon consider opening the market for Vietnamese passion fruit. Previously, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree 73/2025/ND-CP, adjusting preferential import taxes for a number of goods. The tax rate on wood products and wooden furniture was reduced from 15-25% to 0%, and on corn and soybeans from 2% to 0%, creating favorable conditions for US businesses to export to Vietnam. At the meeting, leaders of the two ministries discussed the US's plan to impose reciprocal tariffs of up to 46% on Vietnamese goods, which could cause great disadvantages for both Vietnamese farmers and businesses as well as US consumers and businesses. Mr. Hoang Trung said that Vietnamese agricultural products are of high quality and reasonably priced, and suggested that the US Department of Agriculture support the proposal to exempt taxes on some essential products that do not directly compete, such as seafood, cashews, pepper, vegetables, and coffee. US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jason Hafemeister supported Vietnam's proposals and said the US Secretary of Agriculture is expected to visit Vietnam in May to promote bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector. Regarding wood products, he appreciated the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's close coordination with the US Trade Representative (USTR) to properly implement the commitments in the agreement on controlling illegal logging and trade. The Vietnamese Government has just issued Decree 77/2025/ND-CP regulating the authority and procedures for establishing public ownership and handling related assets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is also developing a circular guiding the handling of confiscated timber, in accordance with the commitments in the agreement, and closely coordinating with relevant agencies to control origin and prevent trade fraud. On that basis, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung suggested that the US side soon consider the positive results from Vietnam and draw conclusions to end the investigation into controlling illegal logging and trade. In addition to the meeting with Deputy Minister Jason Hafemeister, the Vietnamese delegation also had technical exchanges with the Department of Foreign Affairs (US Department of Agriculture) on implementing a project on proper fertilizer use to improve farming efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice production. The delegation also worked with the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to promote the opening of two-way agricultural markets.