Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has signed Decision 1425 to specify the duties and obligations of ministries to implement the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

Illustrative photo. Internet.

The decision says the Ministry of Industry and Trade will be the focal point to implement Chapter 1 on general objectives and definitions, Chapter 3 on trade remedies, Chapter 7 on non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in renewable energy production, Chapter 10 on competition policy, Chapter 11 on State-owned enterprises, enterprises granted special rights or privileges, and designated monopolies, and Chapter 17 on institutional, general, and final provisions.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) must implement Chapter 2 on national treatment and market access for goods in which the first is responsible for export management, the second is in charge of tariffs, and the last has the responsibility for agro products.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs under the Ministry of Finance will be the focal point for implementation of Chapter 4 on customs and trade facilitation.

The Viet Nam Sanitary and Phytosaniary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (Vietnam SPS) under the MARD is assigned to enforce Chapter 6 on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Ministries are responsibility for implementation of Chapter 8 on the liberalisation of investment, trade in services and electronic commerce, including the MoIT (on trade in services), the Ministry of Information and Communications (on electronic commerce in data, telecom, and information circulation), the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (on temporary presence of persons for business purposes), and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (on liberalisation of investment).

During the implementation of the agreement, if there are any problems that need to be adjusted, the MoIT will chair and work with relevant agencies to report to the Prime Minister to consider and regulate in accordance with the actual situation.