On the morning of November 3, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc chaired a meeting with ministries and agencies to discuss a draft Government resolution on promoting balanced trade, preventing the risk of excess capacity and combating trade fraud.

Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai said that, following the Prime Minister’s direction, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) had taken the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to develop a draft Government resolution on a comprehensive plan to promote balanced trade, prevent the risk of excess capacity, combat trade circumvention and illegal transshipment, and control goods produced using forced labor.

According to Deputy Minister Luong Hoang Thai, the plan aims to improve the effectiveness of export-import management, proactively prevent trade-related risks and promote market diversification.

The draft sets out objectives for managing export growth, achieving a reasonable trade balance, diversifying markets, strengthening controls over goods origin and preventing trade fraud.

To achieve these objectives, MoIT has proposed seven groups of tasks and solutions. These include strengthening the review and management of foreign investment activities, with particular attention to projects that may give rise to trade fraud, and improving the effectiveness of inspections, supervision and verification of goods origin.

The draft also proposes measures to promote sustainable trade and increase imports of goods, machinery, equipment and technology within the scope and objectives of the plan, in line with the development needs of the economy.

At the same time, it calls for greater export market diversification, more effective use of signed free trade agreements and expansion into new markets. Efforts will also be made to strengthen information provision and early-warning mechanisms, support businesses in complying with international trade regulations and help them proactively respond to trade remedy measures.

Other groups of solutions focus on strengthening state management capacity, enhancing coordination and data sharing among relevant agencies, and reviewing and improving legal regulations on investment, trade and related fields.

During the discussion, delegates called for further review of the plan’s objectives, scope and allocation of responsibilities to ensure consistency with the functions and authority of each agency, as well as feasibility in implementation.

Regarding management, participants proposed strengthening coordination and sharing of export-import data, improving inspections and supervision, and enhancing the handling of violations. In particular, they stressed the need to clarify concepts related to trade remedy circumvention and illegal transshipment to distinguish these activities from legitimate transportation and transit of goods.

Delegates also called for a review of task assignments, particularly those relating to labor standards and goods control, to ensure they are consistent with the functions and authority of the agencies concerned. Stronger controls must go hand in hand with facilitating legitimate production and business activities.

Regarding market development, participants proposed linking export market diversification with the promotion of sustainable trade. Expanding cooperation should be based on partners’ strengths and the economy’s actual needs, while ensuring a balance of interests among all parties.

Some delegates also recommended accelerating the application of digital technology in trade management, strengthening investment cooperation and technology transfer, and developing domestic research and production capacity, with a view to increasing localization rates and added value.

MoIT to coordinate closely with ministries and agencies in finalizing the draft resolution

Concluding the meeting, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc commended MoIT for its close coordination with ministries and agencies during the drafting process and acknowledged their contributions to improving the document and its implementation arrangements.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the resolution was necessary and had a sound political, legal and practical basis. Its development must closely follow resolutions and conclusions of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo, as well as directives from competent authorities.

In particular, Conclusion No. 106-KL/TW dated October 15, 2026, issued by the 14th Party Central Committee on socio-economic development, implementation of the 2026 state budget and the 2027 plan, sets out the requirement to diversify export and import markets while increasing added value, participating more deeply in regional and global supply chains and reducing dependence on a limited number of markets. It also calls for timely handling of trade and tariff issues and effective solutions to address trade deficits.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister asked MoIT and relevant agencies to continue reviewing the scope, title and contents of the draft resolution, ensuring a balanced approach to trade governance that takes into account both trade surpluses and deficits. However, the resolution should focus on addressing key and urgent issues.

The proposed tasks and solutions must be feasible, effective and substantive, contributing to market diversification, more effective trade governance, proactive risk prevention and the prevention of fraud and violations of the law in export-import activities.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister assigned MoIT to take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to incorporate all appropriate and well-founded comments. All provisions must fall within the proper authority of the relevant agencies and be ready for effective implementation immediately after the resolution is issued.