Center for WTO & International Trade (WITC)

The Review Vietnam legal framework against EVFTA commitments on customs and trade facilitation

17/04/2017

Time: 2017

By: WTO and International Trade Center - VCCI

EVFTA commitments on custom and trade facilitation are considered to have direct impacts on the effectiveness of EVFTA’s implementation on trade in goods. In fact, Vietnam did have commitments on customs and trade facilitation under the Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO (TFA) with similar or even more extensive commitments. However, meanwhile the TFA provides Vietnam with flexible right to choose the schedule to comply, EVFTA sets compulsory commitments under fixed schedule. With regard to the implementation, the operation of EVFTA commitments are going to have immediate and direct effects on the trade in goods between Vietnam and the EU at the time the EVFTA has effect. Hence, it is necessary to review the Vietnam legal framework against EVFTA commitments on customs and trade facilitation in order to define the differences between them, and then, figure out the needed amendments and revision of Vietnam legal framework.

The Report on “Review Vietnam legal framework against EVFTA commitments on customs and trade facilitation” done by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) provides analysis of the level of compatibility in the aspects of business community (esp. export/ import entities); then, proposes the solution for complying with the EVFTA in the way that mostly benefits enterprises and export/ import entities.

This is one of the five reviews of Vietnam legal framework against EVFTA commitments on five (05) important areas (including customs and trade facilitation, investment, government procurement, intellectual property, and transparency) prepared by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the framework of the project: “Vietnamese legal framework ready for EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) implementation” sponsored by the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland in Vietnam.

The publication is attached below