This year is forecasted to be the second consecutive year that Vietnam’s rice exports exceed 8 million tonnes, bringing in about 5 billion USD.

The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) remains undeveloped in key areas and faces uncertainty about its future as the 2024 US presidential election looms. The durability of the IPEF heavily relies on significant work to be done on other pillars, including trade, clean and fair economy pillars, amid concerns about future US engagement and the risk of US withdrawal should Donald Trump return to the White House.

The Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the ASEAN Secretariat on March 25 opened a joint session of ASEAN and Korean experts on the transposition of ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) product specific rules from harmonised system codes HS 2017 into HS 2022.

Vietnam exported over 30,914 tonnes of pepper worth US$124.3 million during the first two months of this year, down 23.5% in volume and 2.1% in value over the same period from 2023, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Standard Chartered Bank forecasts Vietnam’s GDP growth in the first quarter of the year to moderate to a still-strong 6.1% year-on-year from 6.7% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to its recent global research report titled “Vietnam – Q1 GDP to moderate amid rising inflation”.

Brazil does not allow the export of frozen whole shrimp and still applies additive and phosphate standards on tra fish (pangasius) that are different from the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)’s standards, thereby causing difficulties for Vietnamese seafood exports.

Vietnamese authorities have requested a number of localities and businesses to trace the origin of 30 export shipments of Vietnamese durian to China after they were warned of containing excessive cadmium.

With numerous advantages coming from bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), there remains ample room to boost Vietnamese agricultural exports to Australia moving forward, according to insiders.

The conference takes place for three days in Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province.

Strengthening linkages and cooperation between foreign-invested and domestic enterprises will contribute to promoting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese wood industry, according to insiders.