Italy, Vietnam Push Trade Ties Toward Partnership
Italian and Vietnamese officials met at Vietnam's Foreign Ministry to deepen political and economic dialogue.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Italian Food
Live Poll
Should Italy push harder for foreign markets to buy its food products?
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Tripodi met Vietnam's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang for bilateral political consultations. The talks aimed to elevate relations to a Global Strategic Partnership.
Why it matters
Bilateral trade between Italy and Vietnam reached €6.7 billion in 2025, up 9.2 percent from the prior year, giving both sides a foundation for expanded cooperation. Italy's request for broader access for its agri-food products speaks directly to the export market for Italian food producers.
Italy-Vietnam trade reached €6.7 billion in 2025, a 9.2 percent increase over the prior year. Specific Vietnamese market-access commitments for Italian agri-food products were not detailed in the reported talks.
The players
Maria Tripodi
Italy's Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, who led the Italian delegation in the bilateral consultations and pressed for expanded access for Italian agri-food products.
Le Thi Thu Hang
Vietnam's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, who co-chaired the bilateral political consultations with Italy's undersecretary.
The details
The bilateral political consultations were co-chaired at Vietnam's Foreign Ministry, with the agenda focused on political and economic dialogue. The two sides also discussed Indo-Pacific developments, maritime security, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East, and reaffirmed the role of ASEAN and support for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Timeline
2025: Italy-Vietnam trade reaches €6.7 billion, up 9.2 percent.
- 2026-11-02
Bilateral political consultations are co-chaired at the Foreign Ministry.
Trade Trajectory
Italy and Vietnam's 9.2 percent trade growth in 2025 provides the momentum behind the push to elevate ties to a Global Strategic Partnership. The Italian request for wider agri-food access signals that food exports are a central part of that next phase.
If Vietnamese market access expands for Italian agri-food products, shoppers in Vietnam could see wider availability of Italian foods. The talks did not specify which products or timelines are involved, so near-term changes remain uncertain.
The takeaway
Trade growth and diplomatic dialogue are increasingly tied to food exports, so market-access commitments for agri-food products are worth watching as these talks progress. Readers tracking Italian food trade can follow how any concrete Vietnamese concessions emerge.
Further reading
For more on the agri-food exports at the center of these talks, explore Italian Food.
Live Poll
Should Italy push harder for foreign markets to buy its food products?
