Brussels, 20/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - From Monday 23 until Friday 27 June, Brussels will host the eighth round of free-trade negotiations between the EU and Vietnam, the European Commission announced on Thursday 19 June. It also announced that European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht will host Vietnam's Minister for Trade Vu Huy Hoang on 27 June.
Hanoi is redoubling its efforts to complete its trade negotiations with the EU by the tenth EU-ASEM summit to be held in Europe in October. The negotiations were launched in June 2013 and the future free-trade agreement will cover trade in goods and services, investment, public procurement, intellectual property rights (including geographical indications), non-tariff barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, customs cooperation and trade facilitation, and sustainable development.
In 2013, Vietnam became the EU's fourth largest trading partner in the ASEAN region. Bilateral trade in 2013 stood at €27.1 billion - including €21.3 billion exports from Vietnam to the EU. The EU was one of the main investors in Vietnam in 2012 - with a total commitment of €1.3 billion there. (EH)