HCMC – Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has written to the General Administration of Customs of China suggesting that the administration exempt Vietnamese frozen agricultural, aquacultural and food products from Covid-19 tests.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade also asked for coordination from the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia to ensure the smooth transport of goods through border gates and effective Covid-19 infection prevention and control at the same time.
The ministry’s Department for Asia and Africa Markets said amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, China, Laos and Cambodia have tightened control over the import of goods from Vietnam, with China requiring Covid-19 tests on Vietnamese frozen agriculture, aquaculture and food products before they enter China through the border gates.
These strict measures have affected the transport of goods between Vietnam and the three neighboring countries and caused troubles for Vietnamese exporters, farmers and producers.
Last year, many container trucks carrying Vietnamese farm produce were stuck at border gates with China, Laos and Cambodia after these countries temporarily halted imports from Vietnam due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it will keep a close eye on the Covid-19 situation and the transport of goods through border gates to promptly address difficulties and avoid trade disruptions.
Vietnam exported goods worth some US$104 billion in the first four months of 2021, rising 28% compared with the same period last year. Exports to China soared 32.4% to US$17 billion, making China the country’s biggest importer. Exports to Cambodia rose 9% year-on-year to US$1.5 billion and those to Laos rose 12% year-on-year to US$203 million.
