Vietnam official in DC for talks

One of Vietnam’s top officials arrived in Washington on Monday for rare in-person meetings as the Southeast Asian nation makes an 11th-hour case to blunt one of the highest tariff rates imposed by President Donald Trump.

- SRIDHAR NATARAJAN NGUYEN DIEU TU UYEN

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc cancelled afternoon meetings in New York on Monday to travel to the US capital after receiving instructions from Hanoi, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced talks. He plans to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and possibly Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the coming days, they said.

It’s unclear if the meetings will take place before Trump’s 12:01 am in Washington takes effect at 12:01 am in Washington today (11:01 am in Thailand). The people said that Vietnamese officials remain very optimistic that a deal can be reached soon.

Representatives at Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US Treasury Department and the Commerce Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.