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Feb 23, 2018 / 16:38

New move to help expand agricultural trade of Vietnam and the US

The new office of USDA launched in Hanoi this February would pave the way to expand the US’ $2.5 billion-dollar agricultural export market in Vietnam.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently celebrated its new office in Hanoi, as a bridge to boost agricultural trade between Vietnam and the US, the department said in a statement on its website on Thursday.
“Growing agricultural trade between the United States and Vietnam means new opportunities for American producers,” Greg Ibach, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, was quoted as saying.
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo
Having an APHIS office in the heart of Hanoi will not only help maintain existing markets, but foster new opportunities for American farmers who set the worldwide standard for food production. “With this increase in trade comes increased pest and disease risk, and our in-country expertise will ensure the safest trade possible, while still providing greater options for U.S. consumers,” pressed Ibach.
Ted McKinney, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs noted that, Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing global markets for US farm and food products. “The expansion of USDA’s presence in Vietnam is a clear indication of this country’s importance as a US trading partner”, he added.
Accordingly, the office will maintain technical working relationships with their Vietnamese counterparts to resolve any concerns associated with the science-based standards both countries employ to prevent the introduction of animal and plant pests and diseases. By doing so quickly and locally, APHIS can help keep trade moving and benefit the producers and economies of both countries.
Last year, Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fisheries (AFF) exports posted spectacular performance with US$36 billion of export turnover, up by 13% against 2016, data from General Statistic Office of Vietnam speaks.
China, Japan, the US, and South Korea were the four leading markets importing Vietnamese fruits and vegetables, with market proportions of 75.7%, 3.7%, 2.9%, and 2.5%, respectively.