Building connections

At a conference held by the MoIT in July to promote trade with foreign markets, Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade), said that overseas Vietnamese trade offices have maintained effective coordination with the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam and other relevant units to cope with trade defense instruments, such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties imposed by foreign countries on Vietnamese exports. The offices also provided the MoIT with updated information about the market situation in foreign countries, assessed the impact of their trade defense instruments on Vietnam, and proposed suitable response measures.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien speaks at a conference held to promote trade with foreign markets

According to the Vietnamese trade office in China, the Chinese market is showing signs of recovery. Vietnamese fish, crustacean and fruit exports to China have increased. The Chinese side will not suspend imports due to COVID-19 findings, but will tighten source inspection. This will enable Vietnam to boost seafood and fruit exports to China.

The office said Vietnamese frozen food exporters should be willing to cooperate with relevant Chinese officials in COVID-19 investigations, while fruit exporters should be aware of Chinese regulations on packaging and quarantine. In 2022 and 2023, the San Francisco branch of the Vietnamese trade office in the US will organize a series of activities to connect Vietnamese localities and businesses with the states of Oregon and Colorado, and the West Coast of the United States.

The Vietnamese trade office in Australia said Vietnamese steel, textile, garment, coffee, rice, vegetable and fruit exports to this market are growing. Many products such as durian and frozen jackfruit are present in most major supermarkets although they were almost unknown in Australia in the past.

The office believes joint efforts of relevant state authorities, localities and businesses will help increase Vietnamese farm produce exports.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese trade office in Cairo said that Egypt has operated its electronic customs clearance system since October 2021, requiring goods to be registered 48 hours before they are exported, with this regulation now also applied to goods exported by air.

Representatives of overseas Vietnamese trade offices present their opinions at the conference

Diversifying solutions

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien asked overseas Vietnamese trade offices to continue coordinating with relevant units of the MoIT in supporting business efforts to join global supply chains.

He assigned the Multilateral Trade Policy Department and the Domestic Market Department to continue market research and provide consultancy on suitable import, export products, while Vietrade was directed to tighten its coordination with overseas Vietnamese trade offices on market information and forecast.

Minister Dien warned exporters of the need to seriously abide by Vietnamese law as well as the regulations of foreign countries and Vietnam’s commitments under free trade agreements.

He also requested other ministries to maintain tight coordination with overseas Vietnamese trade offices in directing production according to market signals. Negotiations should be accelerated to remove export barriers and help domestic companies cope with trade defense measures in importing countries, he added.

Quang Loc