The EU and Singapore today (20/9/2013) release the text of one of the most comprehensive trade agreements they have ever negotiated. It is the first EU deal with a Southeast Asian economy and has the potential to open the door to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other countries from the region.

The fourth Vietnam – EU (EVFTA) negotiation round was taking place in Brussels from July 1st to 5th, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. At this negotiation round, two sides had accelerated discussion in all aspects and obtained positive progresses on basis of mutual benefit balance.

The third negotiation round of Vietnam – EU Free Trade AgreementImplementing guidance of the two sides’ Leadership, the third negotiation round of Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) was held from April 23rd to 26th, 2013 in Hochiminh city. Vietnamese Delegation led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese Government’s Chief Negotiator on economic issues and international trade Tran Quoc Khanh with representatives from relevant Ministries and branches were participating in the negotiation round.

Vietnam and the European Union started the second round of their negotiations on the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (VEFTA) in Brussels, Belgium, on January 22.  The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh and the EU delegation, headed by Mauro Petriccone, Director for Asia and Latin America of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade.  The four-day talk will focus on the exchange of goods and services, investment, intellectual property, labour and environmental issues. 

It involves 60 experts from both sides. The Vietnamese delegation is headed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh and the EU delegation by Chief Negotiator Mauro Petriccione. As scheduled, both sides will engage in three rounds of negotiations from now into 2013 to be finished in 2014. Vietnam wants to sign the FTA with the EU, in the hope that domestic businesses will be able to penetrate the European market and provide an opportunity for local consumers to purchase EU products at cheaper prices.

The India–EU FTA has been on the anvil for a long time, with no major breakthroughs in sight. A week-long intergovernmental meeting in Delhi from 13–15 May failed to iron out differences and ensure progress towards striking a deal.

Audiovisual content should be out of scope for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), but protection of European geographical indications is covered and intellectual property issues in general “explored,” European Union governments wrote in their draft negotiation mandate for the Commission, dated 21 May.

Date: 15 Mar 2013Place: Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam Organized by VCCI and Mutrap IVDownload Workshop Documents here:

On 26 June 2012, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Vietnamese Minister for Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang officially launch negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and Vietnam. Both sides seek for a comprehensive agreement covering tariffs, non-tariff barriers as well as commitments on other trade related aspects, notably procurement, regulatory issues, competition, services, and sustainable development.

This Recommendation is the result of consultations with Vietnamese business community, studies of experts (Members of the Committee on International Trade Policies) and recommendations of business associations on the prospect of a potential EU - Vietnam FTA.