“Growing agricultural trade between the United States and Vietnam means new opportunities for American producers,” said Greg Ibach, Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the USDA. “With this increase in trade comes increased pest and disease risk, and our in-country expertise will ensure the safest trade possible, while still providing greater options for U.S. consumers. Having an APHIS office in the heart of Hanoi will not only help maintain existing markets, but foster new opportunities for American farmers who set the worldwide standard for food production.”

Ted McKinney, Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the USDA, described Vietnam as one of the fastest-growing global markets for U.S. farm and food products. He said the country currently ranks as the United States’ 11th-largest customer.

“The expansion of USDA’s presence in Vietnam is a clear indication of this country’s importance as a U.S. trading partner,” McKinney said. “The on-the-ground technical expertise of the APHIS team will be an important complement to the trade policy and market development work being done by our Foreign Agricultural Service staff at the USDA Office of Agricultural Affairs in Hanoi, as well as our office in Ho Chi Minh City.”

According to the USDA, the APHIS Hanoi office will maintain technical working relationships with its Vietnamese counterparts to resolve any concerns associated with the science-based standards both countries employ to prevent the introduction of animal and plant pests and diseases.