Tin mới
Viet Nam is prepared for WTO membership (12/06)
06/08/2010 - 190 Lượt xem
Speaking at the mid-term meeting of the Consultative Group of donors to Viet Nam held in Nha Trang, central Khanh Hoa province, from June 9-10, Deputy Minister Vinh also reported to donors on "An update of Viet Nam's bid for Word Trade Organisation membership".
The Deputy Minister reviewed major legislations recently passed by the National Assembly, which were of great significance to Viet Nam's full integration into the multilateral trading system. Viet Nam has committed to abide by the rules on Most Favored Nation Status, National Treatment and to implement its obligations under the various WTO Agreements such as Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMs), Customs Valuation Agreement (CVA), Preshipment Inspection (PSI), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs), Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measure (SPSs), Import Licensing Procedures and Rules of Origin by the date of its accession, Deputy Minister Vinh said. He noted that Viet Nam is also committed to eliminating export subsidies on agricultural products by the date of its accession and to reduce its agricultural export subsidies to zero in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.
"With respect to subsidies that are prohibited under the SCM Agreement, Viet Nam commits to eliminate subsidies contingent upon localisation ratios or the use of domestic over imported
goods and subsidies in the form of direct payment from the State budget contingent upon export performance upon of accession to the WTO," Vinh added.In regard to certain prohibited export subsidies in the form of investment incentives granted to licensed projects for export production prior to its WTO accession, Viet Nam is seeking a 5-year phase-out period in order to honour its commitments with its existing investors and stabilise the business environment, the Deputy Minister said.
He noted, "Quantitative import restrictions (quotas) shall be abolished upon WTO accession. Importation of a few products which are important and sensitive to the national economy such as petroleum will be made through state owned trading enterprises."
Viet Nam has also made substantial preparatory steps for its active international economic integration in key service sectors like telecom, distribution, financial services in accordance with international standards. Viet Nam has so far offered commitments in 11 service sectors and approximately over 100 service subsectors in its WTO accession negotiations.
The Deputy Minister said that Viet Nam highly appreciated the spiritual and material assistance from the international community and donors in its early WTO accession and that the country hoped to receive more technical assistance from them in the post WTO accession.
Source: Vietnam Agency
