On 12.2.20 the European Parliament gave the green light toEU-Vietnam trade agreement. In plenary session, by a large majority (401 votes in favor, 192 against 40 abstentions).
'The most modern arrangement, comprehensive and ambitious never concluded between the EU and a developing country ', reads the Strasbourg resolution. A step forward for sharing commercial standards with the countries ofASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Vietnam and Europe
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam it represents the heart of ASEAN in several respects. 97 million citizens, of which 70% are under the age of 35, and the highest life expectancy in the macro region (76 years). Between 2002 and 2018, over 45 million people were emancipated from poverty, the rate of which (US $ 3,2 / day) dropped dramatically (from> 70% to <6%).
GDP per capita it has increased 2,5 times, surpassing US $ 2.500 in 2018. The middle class, which now represents 13% of the population, is expected to expand to 26% within the next 5 years. Thanks also to the high levels of coverage and learning of education, with scores'remarkably tall ' and higher than those of many OECD countries, as noted in 2012 and 2015 under the Program for International Student Assessment (Program for International Student Assessments, PISA). And to one Human Capital Index which stands out among middle-income countries. (1)
Vietnam is the second largest trading partner of the European Union among the countries joining ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) after thehub financial district of Singapore. With trade in goods for € 47,6 billion and in services for € 3,6 billion per year. The main imports into the EU from Vietnam are telecommunications equipment, clothing and food products. The EU in turn exports mainly to Vietnam machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and agricultural products.
Vietnam-EU, the new partnerships
The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement provides for the mutual elimination of almost all customs duties:
- immediate abolition customs tariffs on 65% of goods imported from Europe and progressive, in the following ten years, for the remaining goods (motorcycles and cars, pharmaceutical and chemical products, wines, poultry and poultry meat),
- cancellation snapshot of import duties on 71% of goods entering the EU, to be completed for the remaining goods in the following seven years. Subject to certain limits on duty exemptions on certain foodstuffs (eg rice, garlic and eggs).
The Courtauld Commitment agreement XNUMX it is extended to a wide variety of services such as banking, postal and shipping. EU companies will therefore be able to participate in public tenders launched by the Vietnamese government and by some local authorities (eg the municipality of Hanoi). And it is complemented by an investment protection agreement which provides, among other things, for the creation of an independent court to resolve disputes between investors and the state.
Sustainable development and protection of geographical indications
Sustainable development finally has a crucial role in a free trade agreement concluded by the European Union. It thus refers in concrete terms, for the first time, to the protection of the environment and the support of social progress. Vietnam therefore undertakes to apply theParis Agreement on Climate Change, as well as to approve two bills on the abolition of forced labor and freedom of association.
Is guaranteed in addition, the safeguarding of 169 European products with a protected designation of origin. And the mutual recognition by the European Union of 39 agri-food products registered as Geographical Indications (GIs).
The entry into force it will follow the formal approval of the free trade agreement by the Council. The investment protection agreement will instead have to be ratified by the parliaments of the EU member states.
Dario Dongo and Martina Novelli
Footnotes
(1) World Bank, Country Reports, Vietnam. 18.10.19 update
(2) The Paris Agreement on Climate Change on the other hand, it is dramatically ignored by the European Union, whose countries continue to foment deforestation in tropical areas through the purchase of GMO soybeans and palm oil which are the main causes.
The toxic treaties already concluded by the EU with the Mercosur countries and Singapore, as well as the negotiations with Indonesia, have so blatantly ignored these serious problems. See previous articles:
- about the breaches of the EU to the Paris Agreement,
- on Mercosur countries and deforestation https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/amazzonia-i-tweet-non-spengono-i-fuochi-buycott, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/mercati/ue-mercosur-accordo-tossico-sul-commercio,
- about Indonesia, Malaysia and deforestation https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/olio-di-palma-fuori-dall-accordo-ue-indonesia-petizione, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/sicurezza/olio-di-palma-indonesia-e-malesia-nascondono-i-dati-e-minacciano-l-europa-buycott, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/indonesia-incendi-e-olio-di-palma-certificato-rspo-rapporto-greenpeace
- on biodiesel Made in Europe and deforestation https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/olio-di-palma-e-diesel-la-petizione-notinmytank, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/ue-altri-10-anni-di-biodiesel-da-palma
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in International Relations at the Sapienza University of Rome, she followed the Master in Law & Foody Safety of the University of Bologna.
