BANGKOK \u2013 The U.S. and Vietnam have agreed to start talks on a trade deal, the Vietnamese government said Thursday, a possible sign of breathing space for some developing Asian countries as President Donald Trump escalates a trade war with China. <\/p>\n
Vietnam\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met in Washington late Wednesday, the day that 46% U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese exports came into force along with higher tariffs on many other countries. <\/p>\n
Hours later, President Donald Trump announced he was cutting duties for countries that were willing to negotiate to 10% for three months, but continued measures against China, which now faces a 125% tariff on its exports.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough the U.S. has decided to delay the imposition of tariff for 90 days, the two countries should start negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement,\u201d Phoc said, according to the Vietnamese government website<\/a>. <\/p>\n An agreement would \u201ccreate a long-term framework to promote stable and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries,\u201d Phoc said. <\/p>\n Talks on a technical level would start immediately, the statement said. There was no immediate comment by the U.S. <\/p>\n