Vietnam and the United States have taken a significant leap forward in agricultural trade relations, culminating in nearly $3 billion worth of agreements signed during a high-profile delegation visit to the U.S. in early June 2025. Led by Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Do Duc Duy, the delegation's multi-state tour included stops in Iowa, Ohio, Maryland, and Washington D.C., where a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and contracts were inked, signaling a deepening partnership between the two nations' agricultural sectors.
The journey began in Iowa on June 2, where Vietnamese agricultural businesses signed four MOUs valued at approximately $800 million. These agreements focus on importing key commodities such as corn, soybeans, and meat over the next three years. This initial success set a robust tone for the delegation's subsequent engagements.
Just two days later, the delegation moved on to Ohio, attending the Vietnam-Ohio Agricultural Business Connection Forum. Here, businesses and officials signed contracts exceeding $600 million to import livestock feed ingredients including corn, corn gluten meal, and soybeans. These deals were witnessed by Minister Do Duc Duy and Ohio's Agriculture Minister Brian Baldridge, who emphasized the complementary nature of the two regions' agricultural economies. Baldridge remarked, "Vietnam and Ohio have a mutually supportive relationship, not direct competition, especially in agricultural trade. We are proud to partner with Vietnamese agricultural stakeholders to open new opportunities for Ohio farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities." This sentiment was echoed by Patty Mann, President of the Ohio Corn Merchants Association, who highlighted Vietnam's role as a reliable and growing export market, crucial for stabilizing prices and sustaining Ohio's agricultural output.
Ohio's agricultural strengths, including soybeans, beef, corn, raw wood, and dairy products, align well with Vietnam's demand, which is dominated by tropical exports such as coffee, cashews, pepper, fruits, and wood furniture. This complementary dynamic fosters a beneficial trade relationship, diversifying product offerings and assuring quality and origin transparency for consumers in both countries.
On June 4, the delegation continued to Maryland, where additional agreements totaling around $300 million were signed for agricultural products and meat imports. The culmination of these activities occurred on June 6 in Washington D.C., during a roundtable hosted by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC). Here, eight new agreements worth $1.1 billion were finalized, including the largest single deal valued at $380 million between Khai Anh Binh Thuan Joint Stock Company and Cargill Group. This MOU commits to importing 1.2 million tons of grains—corn, wheat, and soybean meal—for animal feed from the U.S.
Other agreements involved partnerships between Vietnamese firms such as Thien But Co., RYL Food JSC, IMEX CDC JSC, and associations like the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Processing Association (HAWA), with U.S. companies including Lamex Food Group, Niceland Foods, Sea2Asia, Intervision Foods, Kember Interiors, and Northeast Timber and Lumber LLP. These deals further cement the growing trade ties and cooperation in sectors ranging from food to wood processing.
Minister Do Duc Duy expressed satisfaction with the trip's outcomes, stating, "Up to this point, the delegation's visit has been very successful, yielding highly positive results." He emphasized that the series of MOUs and agreements signed—nearly $3 billion in total—reflect the proactive efforts of Vietnamese agricultural enterprises to seek new partnerships and expand their markets.
Moreover, the forums and meetings facilitated valuable exchanges of market insights, consumer trends, and agricultural development updates between the two countries, creating fertile ground for future investment projects and business collaborations. The delegation also conducted field visits and discussions with state authorities and local businesses, exploring technology transfer opportunities, advanced cultivation techniques, and sustainable agricultural practices aimed at ecological balance, smart farming, and circular economy principles.
Beyond trade, the delegation engaged with U.S. Congress members, state officials, business communities, and local residents to articulate Vietnam's commitment to fostering balanced trade relations and strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States. Ted Osius, Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council, praised the delegation's achievements, noting, "The agreements signed throughout this trip are clear evidence of the positive partnership between our two nations and open promising doors for sustainable agricultural cooperation." He also highlighted USABC's full support for the delegation's activities.
In addition to trade agreements, discussions touched on cooperation in green agriculture, climate finance, and technological innovation. Betsy Struse, Director of International Relations at Cargill, underscored the company's longstanding presence in Vietnam and its commitment to sustainable agriculture. "Cargill values the joint efforts to open bilateral markets and looks forward to continued collaboration benefiting both countries' agricultural sectors," she said.
Financial institutions like Citi Group also expressed their dedication to supporting Vietnam's climate goals. Miguel Bates-Bingosa, Citi's Vice President of International Relations, shared the company's initiatives in advancing circular economy practices and developing climate finance markets in Vietnam, including verified carbon credit transactions aimed at reducing emissions and improving rural livelihoods.
Technological cooperation was another highlight, with companies like Atmo, led by CEO Alex Levy, proposing partnerships to enhance Vietnam's weather forecasting capabilities using artificial intelligence. Such advancements are critical for managing extreme weather events and supporting disaster resilience in the agricultural sector.
International media outlets across Asia and beyond have lauded these developments as significant steps toward rebalancing trade between Vietnam and the U.S. and strengthening bilateral economic ties. Reports have highlighted Ohio's strategic role, given its strong agricultural infrastructure and innovative production, as a vital bridge connecting the U.S. heartland with the rapidly expanding Southeast Asian markets.
Overall, the delegation's visit marks a milestone in Vietnam-U.S. agricultural relations, combining substantial trade agreements with forward-looking cooperation in sustainability, technology, and finance. As Minister Do Duc Duy put it, "The Vietnamese government highly values the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States and will continue striving to elevate this relationship to new heights." With nearly $3 billion in agreements signed and a clear roadmap for future collaboration, the outlook for agricultural trade and cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. has never been brighter.
