The EU and Vietnam today completed the sixth round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The talks were held in Brussels from 13-17 January.

The EU and Vietnam last week completed the fifth round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Held in Hanoi, Vietnam from 4-8 November, the talks saw negotiators discussing texts covering all the chapters of the proposed FTA.

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.

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.

The third negotiation round of Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement.

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.

Free trade agreements (FTAs) are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex trade policy instruments.

This analysis chose four Free Trade Agreements that for their modernity and their similarities with the kind of FTA will be proposed by the EU, will be more likely a useful benchmark on which evaluate the EU’s demand vis-à-vis Vietnam.

EU – the huge market with 27 members is one of the most important trade partners of Vietnam. In recent years, Vietnam – EU trade relations have developed significantly. In 1995, the two sides signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement. Vietnam and EU relation are further strengthened through signing off Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Vietnam and EU intend to launch a free trade negotiation with large and deep market access commitments.