HCMC – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has been assigned to coordinate the implementation of three major free trade agreements under three decisions signed by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son.
They are the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).
Under the decisions, MOIT will coordinate implementation across ministries and agencies and consolidate progress reports for submission to the prime minister. It will also coordinate technical assistance from foreign partners in the implementation process.
The decisions specify focal agencies for each chapter of the agreements. They also identify contact points for information exchange, agencies responsible for handling emerging issues under the CPTPP, and representatives participating in committees and working groups established under each agreement.
For the EVFTA, the MOIT will oversee trade remedies, non-tariff barriers affecting trade and investment in renewable energy production, competition policy, state-owned and preferential enterprises, designated monopolies, and institutional and final provisions.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will be responsible for customs, trade facilitation and government procurement under the EVFTA. The Ministry of Science and Technology will handle technical barriers to trade and industrial property, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will oversee market access for agricultural products, food safety, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Under the CPTPP, the MOIT will lead on cross-border trade in services, competition policy, cooperation and capacity building, business facilitation, trade remedies and dispute settlement.
The MOF will manage tariffs, customs, trade facilitation and the provision of information related to state-owned enterprises, while the Ministry of Home Affairs will be responsible for labor-related commitments.
For the UKVFTA, the MOIT will oversee trade remedies, non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in renewable energy, competition policy, trade in services, e-commerce and dispute settlement.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will serve as the focal agency for copyright and related rights, and the Ministry of Justice will be responsible for transparency-related provisions.
