Overview of the dialogue
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According to Roberto Azevedo, Vietnam has made good use of opportunities brought about by the country’s membership of the World Trade Organisation. He underlined remarkable changes in Vietnam both before and after it joined the WTO, citing noteworthy trade liberation, lower taxes and positive reforms in the service sector. The enforcement and protection of intellectual property has also been improved clearly, he said, adding that the Vietnamese government has taken steps to modernize the economy and create a more attractive and favourable business environment.
With all those moves, Vietnam has enhanced its prestige among the international business community, which it would not have achieved without joining the WTO, Azevedo said. He added that WTO membership also helps Vietnam avoid trade protection measures and non-trade barriers which are on the rise.
Sharing this view, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh reported that Vietnam’s foreign trade value has risen threefold since its WTO accession, while substantial changes have been seen in the country’s institutional environment. Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc affirmed that accession to the WTO forced Vietnam to follow world standards.
According to the WTO Director General, Vietnam is on the right track in the process of international integration and trade liberalization. He appreciated Vietnam’s efforts to join regional and bilateral free trade agreements alongside the multilateral trade institution of the WTO. Multilateral and bilateral mechanisms will supplement each other and assist with Vietnam’s integration process, he said, adding that there is no other choice for Vietnam than to strive to meet world trade standards.
The same day, at his meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Roberto Azevedo explained that the WTO will expand its assistance to underdeveloped countries in the fields of services and e-commerce. This special aid will be given to small and and super small enterprises in order to help them participate in the global supply chain, he added.
Mr. Roberto Azevedo is talking with Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh
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He, however, underlined the need for the WTO and Vietnam to engage in more dialogues on Vietnam’s future plans and how the organisation can assist the country to fulfill such schemes in order to increase the nation’s role and position within global trade. Vietnam can also help the organisation develop rules for negotiations and areas of negotiations that may benefit the country in the future.
The guest noted that Vietnam’s ratification of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement last December has helped cut business costs for local enterprises and facilitated the operation of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to the WTO leader, the orgnisation is seeking to promote negotiations on the remaining Doha issues relating to e-commerce, SMEs and investment facilitation. He suggested Vietnam consider raising these matters at the WTO to promote its plans for growth and development.
For his part, Anh called for more support from the WTO and its member countries to help Vietnam fulfill its commitments to the organisation since the country, as a developing nation, has met a range of difficulties in this work. The minister also proposed the WTO scrutinise trade protection trends, including unhealthy ones that have caused losses for developing nations.
