During the meeting with Nike, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien highly appreciated the corporation's long-standing and responsible presence in Viet Nam, where approximately 50% of Nike's global footwear output is produced, creating jobs for over 450,000 workers.

Minister hopes Nike continues to develop successfully in the Vietnamese market.

The Minister also expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of current tax policies on Nike’s global supply chain and U.S. consumer interests. He proposed a number of supportive orientations tailored to Nike’s operations in Viet Nam.

"Viet Nam does not view Nike merely as an investor, but as a strategic partner committed to sustainable development and international integration," he affirmed.

Later the same day, in talks with Walmart—the world’s largest retail group—Minister Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged the company’s contribution to promoting Vietnamese goods in the global market.

He called on Walmart to expand procurement of high-value, environmentally friendly products and to consider establishing a strategic sourcing center in Viet Nam. The Minister also encouraged cooperation in enhancing supplier capacity through technical standards sharing and training initiatives.

Overview of the working session with leaders from Walmart.

Addressing some operational challenges faced by Walmart in Viet Nam, he pledged that the Ministry of Industry and Trade would work closely with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to review and refine policies to ensure transparency and alignment with international practices.

Emphasizing the crucial role of the US business community as negotiations on a Reciprocal Trade Agreement enter a pivotal stage, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien called on Nike and Walmart to voice strong support for a fair, balanced, and sustainable agreement between Viet Nam and the United States.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien reaffirmed that Viet Nam not only expects Nike and Walmart to continue thriving in the Vietnamese market but also regards both corporations as strategic partners in building green, transparent, resilient, and sustainable supply chains, contributing to deeper economic linkages between the two nations.