Vietnam-US bilateral trade relations are special and Vietnam is animportant market to the US, said US Assistant Secretary of CommerceSuresh Kumar, in Ho Chi Minh City, on Sept. 19.

Kumar, who isalso Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service, said theUS-Vietnam trade relations have seen progress. In particular, since abilateral trade agreement was signed in 2001, two-way trade rose from 2billion USD to 18.6 billion USD in 2010, he said.

The US is thebiggest export market for Vietnam, Kumar said, adding that the USconsumes Vietnam’s goods more than any other markets despite being thecountry’s third-largest trade partner.

Kumar, who is also head ofPresident Obama’s Trade Promotion Agency, reaffirmed one of importantstrategies in Obama’s National Export Initiative is to focus on tradepromotion with top priority markets, including Vietnam.

Vietnamis defined as an important export market for US businesses, but thatdoes not mean that the US wants to reduce Vietnam’s trade surplus withthe US to balance bilateral trade, Kumar said.

In order to promote US exports to Vietnam, the key factor is the impetus from Vietnam’s market, he added.

Atrade delegation from the US will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City inDecember to seek cooperative opportunities with Vietnamese partners,with a focus on business trademarks and franchises, he said.

On anumber of difficulties and hindrances that Vietnamese goods andbusinesses meet when exporting to the US market, Kumar said Vietnamesebusinesses should contact US trade experts and commercial missions tograsp information on technical barriers and import and goods qualityregulations of the US.

The US Commercial Affairs Service is always ready to assist Vietnamese businesses, the US trade official said./.