FTAP provides updates on imports, exports

Specifically, the portal provides reports on Vietnam’s exports to its FTA partner countries, for example rice exports to the EU, trade between Vietnam and the EU, computer and electronic components imports from the EU in September 2023, and Vietnam’s trade with Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) member countries in the first four months of 2021.

Notably, the FTAP also introduces special publications, including books titled “CPTPP: Insiders’ comments,” “EVFTA: Insiders’ comments,” “Developing the UK market for the fishery sector,” “Implementing rules of origin in the CPTPP – A three-year journey since the agreement took effect,” handbook on trade remedies for exporters to CPTPP member countries, and handbook on public purchases in Vietnam through the prism of the CPTPP.

According to the Multilateral Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) – the unit presiding over the implementation of the FTAP project, information about imports and exports is useful to businesses, sectors and local governments in implementing FTA commitments. Reports and publications posted on the FTAP provide businesses with information about Vietnam’s trade with partners under FTAs such as EVFTA, CPTPP and UKVFTA, as well as the utilization of tariff preferences, and state authorities’ recommendations for businesses.

In 2019, the MoIT and the World Bank (WB) cooperated to embark on building the FTAP with the support of the Australian Government. After nearly two years, despite numerous difficulties induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, experts of the MoIT and the WB completed the final step to launch Vietnam’s first FTA portal at http://fta.moit.gov.vn which is now http://fta.gov.vn.

The FTAP continues to be improved and upgraded during the process of being in use. On November 9, 2022, the Minister of Industry and Trade signed Decision 2371/QD-BCT issuing the portal’s operation regulation.

The FTAP is a government-level electronic information portal about all FTAs involving Vietnam. The portal provides information about and data on FTAs through the internet.

The FTAP provides an online search tool enabling users to learn about the commitments of all FTAs involving Vietnam, including commitments on tax, rules of origin, services and investment, while updating users on the contents of the FTAs. The portal also provides information about the domestic and foreign markets, as well as import-export regulations of Vietnam and partner countries, and regulations in other fields such as trade remedies, labor, environment, sustainable development, and intellectual property.

The FTAP has received positive feedback from the business community. Since the portal was launched, the Multilateral Trade Policy Department has received thousands of questions from individuals and businesses asking for information about the markets having FTAs with Vietnam. Apart from in-person events disseminating information about FTAs in localities, the department has also organized online events to enable businesses’ participation from different places, providing information about export markets through the FTAP.

Agricultural expert Hoang Trong Thuy said that Vietnam’s involvement in 17 FTAs reflects the country’s international integration process. FTAs benefit domestic businesses and economic sectors, including agriculture. Therefore, the FTAP plays a very important role, providing official information about FTA commitments, support policies and market development trends.