Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and US TradeRepresentative Robert Lighthizer met as co-chairs of the Vietnam-US Trade andInvestment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council in Washington on May 30.

Inthe spirit of openness and candid dialogue, the two trade officials discussed waysto address economic and trade barriers between the two nations.

Minister Tran Tuan Anh stated Vietnam’s stance and proposals on how to tackle economic,trade and investment issues of the US’s concern, including advertisement on USsocial websites, e-payment services and import of some farm produce products.

He urged the US to soon recognise Vietnam as a market economy as well as make thoroughconsideration and fair decisions on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigationon Vietnamese exports in line with US and the World Trade Organisation’sregulations.

He also asked the US to lift the catfish investigation programme and speed uplicensing procedures to import fruit from Vietnam.

At the meeting, the US Trade Representative lauded Vietnam for successfullyorganising the 23rd APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meetingwhile affirming that the TIFA Council is an important mechanism to handleeconomic, trade and investment issues between the two nations.

Both sides agreed to promote activities of the TIFA Council to address arisingproblems and further enhance economic relations between the two countries inthe coming time.-VNA