NA expected to ratify document on UK’s accession to CPTPP at upcoming session
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on May 15 agreed to submit the document on the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to the NA for approval at the upcoming 7th session which is scheduled to start on May 20.
At the meeting of the NA Standing Committee on May 15, Vice Chairwoman of the Presidential Office Phan Thi Kim Oanh said that on February 1, 2021, the UK officially applied to join the CPTPP. During negotiations with the UK on its CPTPP accession, Vietnam has achieved its target of requesting the UK to commit to open its market at a high level to ensure compliance with the agreement's standards.
After meetings at all levels, on March 31, 2023, CPTPP member countries and the UK announced a joint statement on ending the negotiations. The UK and the CPTPP members signed the Accession protocol of the UK to the CPTPP at the 7th Commission Meeting hosted by New Zealand on July 16, 2023, making this country the 12th signing member of the deal.
The Government of Vietnam proposed the NA ratify the UK’s accession protocol at the 7th session of the 15th NA so that Vietnam will be one of the first six CPTPP countries to ratify it. The early ratification and implementation of commitments in the protocol will help realise opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access the UK market, thereby helping to consolidate and strengthen trade - investment relations between the two countries, and enhance Vietnam's image and position in actively promoting international economic cooperation.
Chairman of the NA's Committee for Foreign Affairs Vu Hai Ha emphasised that the ratification of the protocol demonstrates the high and appropriate political determination, in line with the policies and foreign policy of the Party and State and has a positive impact on the country's socio-economic development.
For bilateral letters between Vietnam and the UK confirming Vietnam's application of market-opening commitments in the field of Government Procurement for the UK as well as for other CPTPP member countries have different contents from the Vietnam - UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the NA's Committee for Foreign Affairs asked the Government to urgently direct relevant ministries and agencies to review, amend or supplement current legal documents or issue new legal documents (if needed) to guide the implementation of the commitments on Government Procurement in these agreements.
