Minister Tran Tuan Anh suggested that relevant agencies as well as localities continue to coordinate the dissemination of mechanisms and policies of the Government related to taking advantage of EVFTA’s incentives when exporting agricultural and forestry products. seafood to EU market.
EVFTA has the highest level of commitment that a partner has for Vietnam
The conference “Supporting agricultural, forestry and fishery exporters to the EU market, effectively implementing the EVFTA Agreement”, chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee The event took place on the morning of June 30 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said that Vietnam is the first developing country in the Asia-Pacific region to have a free trade agreement with the EU. This both confirms and enhances Vietnam’s important geographical and political position in the region, as well as in the international arena.
“EU27 is the 2nd largest import market in the world, accounting for 14.9% of total global imports.
Although it is the second largest export market of Vietnam, it accounts for only about 2% of the total EU import. Therefore, Vietnam has an opportunity to increase exports, especially for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, ”emphasized Minister Tran Tuan Anh.
Accordingly, with the EVFTA Agreement, once signed and put into effect, Vietnam’s agriculture, forestry and fishery products will be able to access a potential market with a population of over 500 million people and GDP. reached 15,000 billion USD.
Imports of agricultural products currently account for about 8.4% of total EU imports, Vietnam still has room to grow exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to serve huge consumption demand. of this market.
In addition, in the ASEAN region, Vietnam is the largest exporter of goods to the EU and will receive more benefits from the EVFTA compared to the other trade agreements that have joined.
The EU and Vietnam are complementary and mutually supportive markets, so this benefit is especially meaningful when the EU is continuously one of our two largest export markets today.
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh spoke at the Conference. Photo: NH.
According to Mr. Luong Hoang Thai, Director of Multilateral Trade Policy Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), EVFTA Agreement has the highest level of commitment that a partner for Vietnam out of all FTAs has been signed with 99% of lines. Import duties between the two sides are eliminated within 7 – 10 years.
Especially for some agricultural products that we have the strength to produce and export such as rice, seafood, coffee, vegetables, cocoa, palm oil …
“The signing and implementation of the EVFTA Agreement not only provides opportunities for export growth but also helps our country’s agricultural sector to step up its restructuring efforts in order to deepen its competitiveness through product quality, traceability, packaging …
From there, it contributes to bringing Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry and fishery goods more deeply into global supply chains, ”emphasized the Director of Multilateral Trade Policy Department.
Supporting exporting enterprises to effectively implement EVFTA
According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, besides the opportunities and potentials from the EVFTA Agreement, Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry and fishery exports to the EU market in the coming time will enter a big “playing field”. accept to cope with new difficulties and challenges.
Specifically, technical barriers to agricultural, forestry and fishery products imported from the EU are very tight.
Up to now, EU is still a market with very high technical barriers, especially in terms of animal and plant quarantine; quality control, food safety and hygiene; combating illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing (IUU); declaration of legal timber origin …
The implementation of the EVFTA Agreement is still a continuation for Vietnamese businesses in complying with EU requirements.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said that overall, the city has not yet stimulated the potential of 20,000 businesses in the area. The city’s agricultural, forestry and fishery turnover only accounts for a small part of the total import-export turnover.
EVFTA is an engine of economic restructuring, an opportunity for Vietnam and its city to recover after COVID-19.
But the big challenge is that small businesses in the city account for over 90%. Many businesses are weak in management skills. Food safety conditions and standards are always a major barrier imposed by the EU.
Therefore, the city needs to focus on propaganda and guidance on the commitments to get the most from EVFTA. “At the same time, administrative reforms and procedures for Ho Chi Minh City to join the global chain; forming value chains, upgrading commodity standards to a new level, avoiding global protection trends, ”Phong said.
Overview of the Conference “Supporting enterprises exporting agricultural, forestry and fishery products to the EU market, effectively implementing the EVFTA Agreement”. Photo: NH.
In addition, EVFTA has incentives for flexible SPS regulations but for some agricultural and fishery products of our country such as pepper, tea, vegetables, etc., though the product quality has been improved over the past time. However, before the technical barriers on EU standards, quarantine, food safety and hygiene and to develop exports sustainably, Vietnam’s agricultural sector needs to reorganize production.
In the coming time, Minister Tran Tuan Anh proposed related agencies as well as localities to coordinate to continue disseminating the mechanisms and policies of the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the ministries and branches. Regarding the export of agriculture, forestry and fishery products to the EU market.
“Promptly provide guidance and answers on EU quality regulations and product safety standards so that localities, industry associations, and agro-forestry and fishery export enterprises may work out the plans. appropriate business plans, meeting the requirements of the market, thereby improving export efficiency in the future, ”the Minister of Industry and Trade emphasized.
Announcement Ceremony of Circular 11/2020 and the inauguration of the national electronic C / O system to implement EVFTA Agreement. Photo: NH.
In addition to the opinions of many businesses about the unclear concrete steps, the documents needed to enjoy preferential export tariffs to the EU under EVFTA, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the delegation will be sent. Working on business with guidance for support.
On that basis, it will expand the model and information for other businesses in the agro-forestry industries that are well-informed and make good use of the opportunities that EVFTA brings to Vietnam.
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh agreed with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and affirmed that he would simplify related procedures to support businesses to quickly enjoy the benefits from this agreement.
“Our point of view is to comply with the requirements of the import market but not to issue additional procedures or sub-licenses that make it difficult for businesses.
Even there are conditions that if the Decree is not submitted to the Government in time for approval, we will also study a temporary mechanism to support businesses, ”Mr. Tran Tuan Anh said.
