US, Vietnam reach trade agreement aimed at easing tariffs, expanding market access for US pork

USA – In a recent social media announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed that the United States and Vietnam have struck a trade agreement just before a looming deadline that threatened to sharply increase US tariffs on Vietnamese imports.

Under the original tariff plan, most goods from Vietnam would have faced a steep 46% tariff, significantly higher than the current baseline of 10% in place since April. 

According to Trump, the new agreement adjusts this structure, setting a general tariff rate of 20% on Vietnamese imports, with products transshipped through Vietnam.

Though detailed terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, Trump emphasized that Vietnam will enhance market access for US goods, presumably including pork and pork variety meat, which currently encounter significant trade hurdles.

Vietnam’s pork import landscape is complex and highly competitive. In mid-2022, Vietnam reduced its most-favoured-nation tariff on frozen pork from 15% to 10%, modestly benefiting US producers. 

However, US pork still faces tariffs much higher than many other suppliers. For instance, pork from Russia, Vietnam’s largest single-country supplier, enters duty-free, as do imports from Canada and other countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

While these tariff percentages may appear moderate, Vietnam’s market is highly price-sensitive. 

The country’s acceptance of pork from regions affected by African swine fever (ASF), such as Russia and parts of the EU, provides competitors with a distinct advantage since many importing countries reject ASF-affected pork. 

Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation, stressed that tariff reductions alone won’t unlock the full potential of US exports. 

Non-tariff barriers also pose significant obstacles. For example, since May 2024, Vietnam’s Department of Animal Husbandry halted registrations for new red meat facilities, demanding sensitive business details like comprehensive supplier lists and HACCP plans.

Additionally, Vietnam continues to restrict imports of “white offal” through stringent permit and product registration requirements, limiting opportunities for US pork variety meat despite official market openness.

Vietnam has also maintained strict microbiological testing standards, including a zero-tolerance policy for salmonella spp., which poses a potential barrier to US exports. 

Although Vietnam reduced sampling frequency for compliant exporters, the rigorous standard remains in place despite industry feedback.

If tariffs on US pork and pork variety meat are eliminated and non-tariff barriers addressed, the US Meat Export Federation forecasts US pork exports to Vietnam could climb to US$25–30 million annually, a marked increase from US$9.3 million last year. 

However, through May 2025, US pork exports to Vietnam totaled less than US$3 million, nearly half the pace of the previous year.

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