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
Mr 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.
Source: The Saigon
Times