(KPL) Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic led a high-level delegation to Washington D.C., United States, in late September 2025 to strengthen economic and trade relations and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, the Prime Minister held talks with Mr. Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), to advance ongoing trade negotiations and discussions on tariff reduction, following the progress made by both sides’ negotiating teams in recent years.

Both parties engaged in a frank and constructive exchange of views focused on finding solutions to outstanding issues in their trade relations. Prime Minister Sonexay reaffirmed the Lao Government’s determination to further strengthen cooperation with the United States based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. He noted that as a small, landlocked country striving toward graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the Lao PDR attaches great importance to expanding trade and investment partnerships with all nations.

Over the years, Laos and the United States have worked closely together on several key areas, including the search for American personnel missing in action (MIA) from the war, the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO), and the repatriation of Lao nationals.

The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Lao PDR and the United States, while 2026 will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership established between the two nations.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sonexay provided clarification on various issues raised by the American side, particularly those related to the trade negotiation process. He also outlined several measures being implemented by the Lao Government, including its readiness to waive import tariffs on selected U.S. goods, the continued improvement of non-tariff barriers, enhanced trade facilitation, and the promotion of domestic production and consumption.

Mr. Greer expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s visit and his open, detailed exchange of information, which he said would be valuable for advancing bilateral trade discussions. He noted that he would report the outcomes of the meeting to the President of the United States for consideration, particularly regarding possible tariff relaxation measures for the Lao PDR and the promotion of future economic cooperation.

While in Washington D.C., the Prime Minister also attended a meeting with the U.S.-Lao Business Community, which serves as an important platform for promoting collaboration between the private sectors of both countries. During the meeting, the Lao delegation provided detailed information about the Lao Government’s trade and investment policies, as well as the country’s economic potential in various sectors. Prime Minister Sonexay invited U.S. companies and investors to explore opportunities in Laos and study the country’s favorable investment environment, including laws and regulations designed to support foreign investment.

The Prime Minister also met with members of the advisory board of Legacies of War, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that advocates for continued assistance in addressing UXO contamination in Laos. He expressed his appreciation for the organization’s long-standing efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of UXO and its contributions to mobilizing international support for clearance operations. He encouraged the organization to continue its important work, noting that UXO contamination remains a major obstacle to socio-economic development in Laos.

This visit and working session by the Lao delegation marked an important milestone in further strengthening understanding and cooperation between the Lao PDR and the United States, reaffirming both nations’ shared commitment to resolving outstanding issues on the basis of mutual benefit and within the framework of their Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed in 2016.

KPL