1. General Information
- Full name: Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union
- Abbreviation: VN–EAEU FTA (Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement)
- Members/Parties: Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which consists of five member states: the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Armenia, and the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Date of Signing: May 29, 2015 (in Burabay, Kazakhstan) Date of Entry into Force: October 5, 2016
Background of Negotiation and Reasons for the Formation of the FTA
Background: The negotiation process for the VN–EAEU FTA officially began on March 28, 2013, and went through eight official negotiation rounds. This is the first FTA signed by the EAEU with an external partner.
Reasons for Formation:
- Expanding Export Markets: The EAEU is a large market with over 183 million people and a GDP of about USD 2.2 trillion, dominated by the Russian Federation. The Agreement allows Vietnam to penetrate this market with preferential tariff advantages, particularly for key export sectors such as textiles, footwear, and agro–aquatic products.
- Strengthening Strategic Partnership: The signing and implementation of the FTA deepens the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Russia, while also reinforcing trade relations with other EAEU member states.
- Balancing Supply Sources: Vietnam commits to open its market to approximately 90% of products from the EAEU, facilitating the import of strategic goods such as petroleum, steel, fertilisers, and machinery—helping to balance supply sources and reduce input costs.
2. Scope and Key Commitments
The VN–EAEU FTA consists of 15 main Chapters and several related Annexes.
| Chapter | Chapter Title (Vietnamese) | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal Matters | General rules and provisions of the Agreement. |
| 2 | Trade in Goods | Elimination and reduction of tariffs on goods. |
| 3 | Rules of Origin | Criteria and procedures for certification of origin (C/O form EAV). |
| 4 | Trade Remedies | Rules on anti-dumping; countervailing; and safeguard measures. |
| 5 | Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures | Ensuring food safety and the protection of human; animal; and plant health. |
| 6 | Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) | Reducing unnecessary technical barriers to trade. |
| 7 | Customs Cooperation and Trade Facilitation | Simplifying customs procedures; enhancing transparency and cooperation. |
| 8 | Trade in Services | Commitments to liberalize the service market. |
| 8 bis | Investment | Commitments to protect and facilitate investment. |
| 9 | Movement of Natural Persons | Regulations on the temporary movement of business persons. |
| 10 | Intellectual Property | Protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (commitments not exceeding WTO level). |
| 11 | Competition | Rules on competition policy and control of subsidies. |
| 12 | Sustainable Development | Cooperation on environmental and labor issues (mainly cooperative in nature). |
| 13 | Institutional Provisions | Establishment of the Joint Committee under the VN–EAEU FTA. |
| 14 | Dispute Settlement | Mechanism for dispute settlement between the Parties. |
| 15 | Exceptions and Final Provisions | Exceptions and final implementation provisions. |
3. Reference Materials and Official Sources
Full Text of the FTA: Available on the Vietnam FTA Portal (Ministry of Industry and Trade – MOIT).
- Provides the full text of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union and related Annexes (tariff schedules, rules of origin, etc.).
- Reference: Official website of MOIT or Vietnam’s FTA Portal (search for VN–EAEU FTA).
Implementation Guidelines and Legal Documents:
- Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT): Lead implementing agency. Circulars on rules of origin under the VN–EAEU FTA and procedures for issuing Certificate of Origin (C/O Form EAV).
- Ministry of Finance (General Department of Customs): Government Decrees on Vietnam’s preferential import tariff schedules for the implementation of the FTA.
- Information available on the official website of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
- WTO and Integration Center – VCCI: Publishes handbooks, summaries, and analytical reports on the commitments, opportunities, and challenges of the FTA for the business community.
See other FTAs:
