The talks took place right after the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) had ratified the deal earlier the same day.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh during his phone talks with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.

According to the EU’s internal procedures, the EVFTA needs the European Parliament’s ratification and then the European Council’s approval to come into force.

On February 12 this year, the European Parliament ratified the agreement with 63,35 percent of votes in favour. The European Council also approved the trade pact on March 30 and sent a document to Vietnam on April 24 to inform about the EU’s completion of its last legal procedure.

Meanwhile, the EVFTA sailed through the Vietnamese NA on June 8 with the support of all lawmakers present at the plenum.

Under Article 17.16 of this deal, the EVFTA will take effect on the first day of the second month after the month when both sides inform each other about the completion of corresponding legal procedures for the enforcement, or another date agreed on by both sides.

According to Vietnam’s 2016 law on international treaties, after the NA issued a resolution ratifying the EVFTA (usually one week), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will announce the country’s completion of domestic legal procedures to the EU.

As the EU already gave the notification to Vietnam in April, Vietnam’s coming announcement will also set the date for the EVFTA to take effect for both sides, August 1 as expected.

In case the country wishes the agreement to become effective on an earlier date, it will have to discuss with the EU and wait for results of the bloc’s internal consultation. If the internal consultation lasts for more than three weeks, it will be hard for the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam to send the announcement of the country’s completion of internal procedures to the EU before July 1, according to officials.

Trade minister asks for optimising EVFTA commitments

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh on February 26 asked relevant departments and agencies to optimise commitments in the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which will take effect later this year.

Veggie, fruit exporters seek new markets through EVFTA

The recent ratification of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) by the European Parliament (EP) is expected to help with the market expansion of Vietnamese farm produce, including fruits and vegetables, in the face of the coronavirus outbreak disease (COVID-19), according to insiders.

EVFTA gives new boost to Vietnam-Czech Republic economic ties

The European Parliament (EP)’s ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement on February 12 has been applauded in the Czech Republic.

Gov’t to issue lists of preferential tariffs under EVFTA

The Government is set to issue a decree on the lists of preferential export tariffs and special preferential import tariffs to implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) when the deal comes into force in Vietnam.

EVFTA, EVIPA improve Vietnam’s position in world arena

The European Parliament (EP) on February 12 ratified the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The trade pacts help Vietnam enhance its role in the world arena.

Source: NDO/VNA