U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the United States and Vietnam will sign a new regional trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership by the end of the year.
She announced this at a joint press conference with her Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh after their meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership would lower trade barriers while raising standards on everything from labor conditions to environmental protection to intellectual property. Economists expect that Vietnam would be among the countries to benefit the most under the pact.
Clinton assured that when she meets with the American Chamber of Commerce and a number of both Vietnamese and American business leaders, she will look for ways to expand trade and investment. It has increased from practically nothing in 1995 to more than $22 billion today. In just the two years - between now and 2010, it has grown more than 40 percent.
Clinton noted that there are some who argue that developing economies need to put economic growth first and worry about political reform and democracy later, but made it clear that it is a "short-sided bargain." Democracy and prosperity go hand in hand, political reform and economic growth are linked, and the United States wants to support progress in both areas, she added.
Clinton said during her talks, she raised concerns about human rights in Vietnam, including the continued detention of activists, lawyers, and bloggers, for the peaceful expression of opinions and ideas. "In particular, we are concerned about restrictions on free expression online and the upcoming trial of the founders of the so-called Free Journalists Club. The Foreign Minister and I agreed to keep talking candidly and to keep expanding our partnership."
The two Foreign Ministers also discussed ways to address legacy issues such as Agent Orange, unexploded ordnance, and accounting for U.S., Vietnamese personnel missing in action during the Vietnam war.
Clinton said Vietnam had emerged as a leader in the lower Mekong region and in Southeast Asia, and the United States and Vietnam shared important strategic interests. She added that when she and the Vietnamese Foreign Minister travel to the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, they will have a chance to engage with their colleagues on issues such as regional integration, the South China Sea, cyber security, North Korea, and the future of Myanmar.
The United States greatly appreciated Vietnam's contributions to a collaborative, diplomatic resolution of disputes and a reduction of tensions in the South China Sea. "And we look to ASEAN to make rapid progress with China toward an effective code of conduct in order to ensure that as challenges arise, they are managed and resolved peacefully through a consensual process in accordance with established principles of international law," Clinton told reporters.
Clinton pledged help to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the return of the Fulbright Program in Vietnam. Nearly 15,000 Vietnamese students study in the United States each year. They come home and contribute to Vietnam's continued development, and "we are very much hoping to deepen our ties even further by sending Peace Corps volunteers to Vietnam in the near future," Clinton added.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Political News
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.