The Prime Minister appointing the focal points for EVFTA implementation

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has just issued the Decision 1175 / QD-TTg dated August 4, 2020 on the appointment of focal agencies to implement the Viet Nam – EU Free Trade Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA).

The decision takes effect from August 4, 2020.

According to the Prime Minister's decision, the nominated list of focal points for the implementation of the EVFTA includes:

The Ministry of Industry and Trade takes the lead in overall goals and orientations; trade remedies; non-tariff barriers to trade, and investment in renewable energy production; competition policy.

With the content of national treatments and market opening for goods, the key agencies assigned include: The Ministry of Industry and Trade (for general regulations, import and export management); Ministry of Finance (for tariff matters); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (for contents related to agricultural products).

The Ministry of Finance (General Department of Customs) takes the lead in Customs and trade facilitation; The Ministry of Science and Technology takes the lead in technical barriers to trade; The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development takes the lead on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

Regarding the list of appointed focal agencies to receive and exchange information and the contact points, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) takes the lead for answering information related to Customs and trade facilitation; The Ministry of Science and Technology (Vietnam TBT Office) takes the lead in the Trade Technical Barriers issues.

For the Intellectual Property Contact Point, the agency in charge includes: The Ministry of Science and Technology (for industrial property-related contents); Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (for copyright and related rights); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (for plant variety-related content).

In addition, the Decision also includes a list of designated focal points to participate in the EVFTA's Committees and Working Groups.

In the process of implementing the Agreement, the focal points can be adjusted (if required) to suit the actual situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies in, synthesizing and reporting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision. .

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also completed its own EVFTA Implementation Plan for promulgation. In this plan, the Ministry has identified many solutions to support businesses to aware about the Agreement, access the EU market, and take advantage of EVFTA.