The forum aims at sharing information about the core commitments of the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and its implications, new points and differences in the SPS Chapter of the Agreement compared with other free trade agreements. It was co-organized by VNU University of Economics and Business and SPS Vietnam Office (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

The forum was attended by the leaders of the UEB, the Board of Directors of SPS Vietnam Office, and lecturers and students of UEB’s faculties and schools; staff of SPS Vietnam together with representatives from government agencies, scientists, faculty members, and university students in the fields of economics - business, management, agriculture and development in the northern region.

 

Opening the forum, Assoc.Prof.PhD. Nguyen Anh Thu - Vice Rector of the UEB said: “EVFTA is one of the new generation Free Trade Agreements that Vietnam has joined, with broad and deep commitments covering both traditional and non-traditional content. According to economic experts, EVFTA is expected to bring many favorable opportunities to the economy and society of our country. The Implementation of the SPS commitments in the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement Forum is intended to provide accurate information about the enforcement provisions of the Agreement, taking the necessary notice of the businesses and regulators about the differences of this agreement when the parties join".

 

Attending the forum, PhD. Vu Thanh Huong, Associate Dean of the Faculty of International Economics and Business emphasized that EVFTA is a special agreement from many aspects such as: partners, time effect and how to implement it in Vietnam. According to the speaker, unlike some other important partners that had an FTA with Vietnam such as Japan and Korea, the EU and Vietnam did not have an FTA before. The EU is also a complementary market with Vietnam, is the source technology region, is the world's largest investor, is also the top 3 export market of Vietnam and also a market with large purchasing power. The speed of policy promulgation and the implementation of EVFTA have taken place rapidly and EVFTA is the agreement with the highest level of liberalization that Vietnam has ever participated in. In the period 2001-2020, Vietnam's exports to the EU increased more than 12 times, imports increased more than 9 times. In the situation of the global pandemic with difficulties causing by trade protectionism, the US-China trade war, Vietnam is facing many trade remedies, EVFTA has brings many great opportunities for our economy such as expanding export markets, attracting investment, participating in the value chain of EU enterprises etc. To implement the Agreement, Vietnam also deals with the challenges of competing with EU goods, enhancing its ability in meeting rules of origin, technical, labor and environmental standards.

 

Later at the Forum, VNU University of Economics and Business and SPS Vietnam Office signed the cooperation agreement in implementing the contents within the framework of EVFTA. The two sides are committed to cooperation in activities such as publishing newsletter, event organization and communication, cooperation in the field of internships, training, enrollment etc.

 

 

 

MA. Tran Thuy Dung - SPS Vietnam Office

Here are some photos of the forum:

 

 

 

 

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