The seminar aimed to provide consultancy for Vietnam to make the best use of every benefit after joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Doha round. As a full member of the WTO, Vietnam can make proposals and discuss global trade policies to protect its industrial, trade and service sectors as well as its non-agricultural market.

The Doha round of talks has been delayed due to its complexity and conflicting interests, particularly in the agricultural sector.

At the seminar, the participants analysised situations that may occur in the Vietnamese market if the Doha round is successful or unsuccessful and proposed measures to enable Vietnam to protect its domestic agricultural sector and use the special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for developing countries.

They also recommended that Vietnam make a list of sensitive and special products to cope with every possible situation.

According to Prof. Claudio Dordi, MUTRAP III’s Chief Advisor, in its capacity as a new member of the WTO, Vietnam can now benefit from the Doha talks and reap a wealth of opportunities to penetrate other markets without making any substantial concessions in its negotiations.

However, during the approach, Vietnam will have to open up its markets previously agreed. In order to minimise any negative factors after opening up its market, Vietnam needs to increase its competitive edge and actively take part in the Doha talks.

The seminar also provided information about the latest developments in relation to the Doha round such as agriculture, access to the non-agricultural market, trade and services and worked out solutions to facilitate Vietnam’s participation in the Doha talks in the future.