Viet Nam Human Rights
EVFTA must bring benefits to people
3/11/19
Bilateral trade between Việt Nam and the European Union must guarantee benefits for the people on both sides, the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) Chairman Bernd Lange said yesterday.
“The trade agreement is not only the issue for the governments of both sides but also for the people on the ground,” Lange told reporters at a press conference in Hà Nội.
Each trade agreement had to be comprehensively approached as it was all about fairness and sustainability, he said.
“We should not think it’s only a free trade agreement, we should speak it’s a free, fair and sustainable trade agreement,” Lange said.
He said both sides must seek common understanding on issues which are not clear at the moment.
Those issues are related to sustainability, labour rights and environmental standards, which are integrated parts of the agreement.
Especially, the two sides must work on labour rights and environmental issues, which are stated in content from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Paris Agreement, he added.
The European Parliament (EP) will discuss the agreement, which was signed in June, on November 6. It is expected to vote for the agreement on January 31, 2020 and the agreement could be approved in February 2020.
Lange also pointed out other issues that have remained obstacles for both Việt Nam and the EU such as tangible areas (cars and car parts) and consumer protection.
Speaking highly of Việt Nam’s decision to ratify ILO’s Convention 98 on organised and collective bargaining right, the official hoped the Government and the National Assembly would soon find the way to say “yes” to two other conventions – the Convention 105 on abolition of forced labour and Convention 87 on freedom of association – at the ongoing National Assembly meeting, paving the way for EU members to vote for the European-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
The press conference was organised by the German political organisation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development and the Centre for Integration and Development./.
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All comments [ 20 ]
The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) represents an historic change and a new chapter in trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the European Union.
It is the most comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing nation, and one which will open up huge new opportunities for businesses and consumers on both sides.
The EVFTA will both boost bilateral trade and investment, and see Vietnam further integrate into the global economy and international community.
This represents a true win-win for business and consumers, in the form of lower prices and increased competitiveness.
In the deal, Vietnam has gone over and above the World Trade Organization baseline in terms of market access granted to EU service providers.
the EVFTA will build upon a decade of growing trade and investment between the EU and Vietnam.
These agreements will provide a more secure, predictable, and business-friendly environment, and one which is better aligned with international norms and practices.
Vietnam will become a trade and investment hub in the region, well-placed to attract new investment from companies looking to benefit from the new opportunities.
the EVFTA will have a positive and significant impact on Vietnam’s social and economic development
Challenges also remain in terms of ensuring the smooth implementation of the EVFTA in Vietnam.
I think that this is one of the most important and historic FTAs for Vietnam, because the EU is the bloc of the most advanced nations in the world, with long-lived civilisations and famous scientific and technological foundations, and with strict but equal and sustainable conditions for partners.
This agreement attests to the confidence of EU nations in Vietnam’s development potential.
This is also an opportunity for Vietnamese consumers to access healthy and high-quality European products at a lower cost.
The EVFTA also offers opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to compete more equally with nations that are now enjoying the “most-favoured nation” status on tariff
Vietnam is an attractive growth market for European businesses – with the fastest-growing middle class in the region – providing a ready market for European autos and auto parts, machinery and pharmaceuticals.
Vietnam is one of the 10 members of the ASEAN and has become the EU's second-largest trading partner in the region through this free trade agreement, after Singapore.
Vietnam has long been a favoured investment destination and European businesses have long been proud contributors to the Vietnamese economy and society.
The agreement’s strong commitment to open, fair, and rules-based trade will widen export markets for Vietnam.
The EU is currently the second-largest market for Vietnamese exports of key produce and commodities
The EVFTA marks a milestone in the strong and fruitful relationship that the EU and Vietnam enjoyed for three decades.
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