Vietnam ready for FTA talks with EU, says PM
HCMC – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Tuesday stressed to EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht that Vietnam’s agencies are ready to start talks with the EU for signing free trade and partnership agreements.
Dung told the visiting commissioner in Hanoi that Vietnamese ministries and bodies are prepared for talks over the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Government leader, however, made it clear that “there remain barriers to be brought down, such as the extension of anti-dumping duties slapped by the EU on Vietnam’s leather footwear,” the Government said on its website www.chinhphu.vn.
He also said Vietnam has transformed itself into a market economy, and suggested the EU recognize this status for Vietnam.
De Gucht was in Hanoi on Tuesday in a mission to pursue talks with each ASEAN country over the FTA after talks over this issue between the EU and ASEAN had collapsed over one year ago. Vietnam is the first leg in De Gucht’s trip to Asia.
Speaking to assembled reporters in Hanoi, De Gucht said bilateral talks with Vietnam over the FTA would play a big role in helping Vietnam meet criteria relating to the market economy status, Vietnamnet reports.
He also referred to other benefits for Vietnam in FTA talks.
“Vietnam is a major exporter in the EU market. The FTA would help scale up Vietnam’s exports to Europe with more added values,” he was quoted as saying.
De Gucht said that during his talks with Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang on Tuesday, the minister pledged to consult other relevant bodies in starting FTA talks with the EU.
Two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU totaled some US$12 billion a year. Foreign direct investment from the EU into Vietnam has amounted to some US$13.3 billion pledged in nearly 1,000 projects.