Hanoi | Published: 21 February 2026, 09:28 AM IST
U.S. President Donald Trump has told Vietnam’s top leader To Lam that he will direct U.S. agencies to remove Vietnam from Washington’s restricted strategic export control list, according to an announcement from Hanoi’s government on Saturday.
The two leaders met for the first time in person at the White House on Friday, following Mr. Lam’s participation in the inaugural meeting of Trump’s newly created “Board of Peace” (BoP) in Washington, D.C.
Vietnam’s Government News reported that President Trump had agreed to “instruct the relevant agencies to soon remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list,” a move that would give Hanoi broader access to advanced U.S. technologies.
Trade Tensions and Court Ruling
The announcement came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected several of Trump’s previous tariffs, ruling that many of the former administration’s sweeping levies were illegal.
The U.S. and Vietnam have been engaged in prolonged trade negotiations, particularly after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs earlier this year, which targeted Vietnam heavily due to its large trade surplus with the U.S.
Major Vietnamese Airline Deals with U.S. Aerospace Firms
This week, three Vietnamese airlines signed nearly $37 billion worth of deals with American aerospace companies.
- Sun PhuQuoc Airways ordered 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, valued at $22.5 billion
- Vietnam Airlines placed an $8.1 billion order for around 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft
These deals are seen as part of Hanoi’s broader strategy to strengthen economic and aviation ties with the United States.
Tariff Reductions and Washington–Hanoi Deal
Vietnam had been targeted with one of the highest tariff rates when Trump launched his tariff blitz earlier this year, due to its position as the third-largest U.S. trade surplus partner after China and Mexico.
However, in July, Hanoi successfully negotiated a minimum 20% tariff, down from more than 40%, in exchange for opening its market further to U.S. goods, including American automobiles.
On Friday, shortly after the Supreme Court decision, Trump signed off on a global 10% tariff on all countries, signaling his continued commitment to reshaping global trade frameworks.