Vietnam suggests EU withdraw “yellow card” and ratify EVFTA soon
Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue suggested Viet Nam and the European Unions would step up efforts to officially sign and ratify the free trade agreement in the first half of 2018.
He made the suggestion at his reception for Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Viet Nam at the Government Office on November 21.
Talks on the trade deal began in June 2012 with a view to ensuring a conducive environment for trade and investment relations and both sides concluded the negotiation process last year.
The agreement contains a legally binding link to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that governs the relations between Viet Nam and the EU.
Deputy PM Hue also expressed his regret over the EU’s “yellow card” warning to Viet Nam for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, asking the EU to soon withdraw the “yellow card” as it has worried Vietnamese fishermen and may cause negative impacts on bilateral ties.
Vietnamese competent agencies have undertaken comprehensive measures to prevent and put stop to IUU fishing, the Deputy PM said.
The Vietnamese fishing industry is concerned that the yellow card will seriously harm the reputation of Vietnamese seafood worldwide, weakening sales.
Further, fish exports from “yellow card” countries are subjected to intense scrutiny: all Vietnamese fish export containers will now be inspected, a process that can take three to four weeks and £500 (US$633) per container. A rejected container can cost an exporter nearly $12,000, and the risk of rejection is considered high.
Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue receives Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Viet Nam at the Government Office on November 21, 2017. Photo: VGP
He made the suggestion at his reception for Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Viet Nam at the Government Office on November 21.
Talks on the trade deal began in June 2012 with a view to ensuring a conducive environment for trade and investment relations and both sides concluded the negotiation process last year.
The agreement contains a legally binding link to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that governs the relations between Viet Nam and the EU.
Deputy PM Hue also expressed his regret over the EU’s “yellow card” warning to Viet Nam for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, asking the EU to soon withdraw the “yellow card” as it has worried Vietnamese fishermen and may cause negative impacts on bilateral ties.
Vietnamese competent agencies have undertaken comprehensive measures to prevent and put stop to IUU fishing, the Deputy PM said.
The Vietnamese fishing industry is concerned that the yellow card will seriously harm the reputation of Vietnamese seafood worldwide, weakening sales.
Further, fish exports from “yellow card” countries are subjected to intense scrutiny: all Vietnamese fish export containers will now be inspected, a process that can take three to four weeks and £500 (US$633) per container. A rejected container can cost an exporter nearly $12,000, and the risk of rejection is considered high.
Leave your comment on this story