The 8th FTA negotiation round between Vietnam and Customs Union of Belarus – Kazakhstan – Russia took place from December 8 – 12, 2014 in Conference Centre of Kien Giang, Phu Quoc island district, under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Minister in charge for Trade of Asia – Europe Economic Committee Andrei A. Slepnhev.

With participation of 6 negotiation groups, the 8th negotiation round focused on trade in goods, trade in service, investment, personal movement, rule of origin, trade safeguard, cooperation in customs, trade facilitation, legislative, institutional and horizontal issues.

Implementing the guideline of both sides’ high-level leaders on negotiation conclusion by end of 2014, two sides had reach agreement on the text of “Cooperation in Customs” Chapter, and basically concluded negotiation on the texts of remaining chapters such as Trade in Service, Investment and Personal Movement, Rule of Origin, Trade Safeguard, Institutional and Legislative Horizontal Issues. Thus, FTA’s main body has been agreed. Remaining issues including concretized details, technical issues and text finalization have been also basically agreed by the both sides.

Two sides signed announcement on negotiation conclusion and acceleration of internal consultation and exchange on remaining technical issues for agreement signing by the beginning of 2015.

Source: MOIT

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