Vietnam, EFTA hold trade pact talks in Geneva
(VOV) - Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held the 8th round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 3-6, examining the opening of the market for goods, services and investment.
Sources from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) say both sides reached consensus on a number of issues, including the possibility of opening each other’s markets, as well as sensitive issues, so as to accelerate the negotiation of the trade pact in the following rounds.
They agreed to convene the 9th round in Hanoi from August 25-28, focusing on the opening of the market for goods and services.
The Vietnamese delegation to the trade talks was represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and State Bank of Vietnam.
Last year, the EFTA (comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam, recognising the country’s market economy status and agreeing to kick-start bilateral FTA negotiations.