Vietnam, EU Cooperate To Boost Trade in Agriculture, Forestry And Aquatic Products

(NDO) On the afternoon of February 18, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Liming Huan met with Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

 

According to the Vietnam News Agency, in a meeting with Minister Zhong Liming Huan, Vietnam has released the "2021-2030 and 2050 Vision Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development Strategy". In the process of formulating the strategy, Vietnam has referred to the EU's policies on green agreements, safe, healthy and environmentally friendly food chain strategies, circular economy, biodiversity and other aspects. Minister Liming Huan hoped that the EU would provide Vietnam with financial and technical assistance to help Vietnam implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

 

Regarding the trade of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, Minister Liming Huan said that the EU is the third largest market for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and aquatic products. In the context of the complicated and unpredictable epidemic situation, the bilateral trade in agriculture, forestry and aquatic products will reach US$5.2 billion in 2021, an increase of more than 14% over 2020.

 

In order to effectively implement the commitments of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Minister Liming Huan proposed that the EU continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry and aquatic products to enter the EU market; VNTLAS) in order to export timber licensed under Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) to the EU as soon as possible. The EU continues to support and coordinate with relevant Vietnamese agencies on the content of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS).

 

Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president of the European Commission, said that the two sides can find a common development direction, and trade is the core factor. The two sides will implement the commitments in the trade agreement and jointly promote cooperation to promote trade activities in a sustainable manner without negatively impacting the environment.

 

In order to promote the development of bilateral trade activities, Mr. Frans Timmermans proposed that Vietnam approve the registration documents for exporting agricultural products such as fruits and animal products from the EU to Vietnam as soon as possible.

 

Regarding the European Community's yellow card warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Minister Liming Huan proposed that the European Community continue to support Vietnam and recognize Vietnam's efforts to lift the IUU yellow card warning.

 

Mr. Frans Timmermans said that Vietnam has taken very strict legal measures to implement the European Community's recommendations on combating IUU fishing. However, in order to lift the yellow card warning as soon as possible, the two sides still need to further clarify the technical aspects.