17/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – According to parliamentary sources, MEPs are unlikely to vote on trade agreements with Vietnam, a free trade agreement (FTA) and an investment protection agreement (IPA) signed last June (see EUROPE 12286/5) until early 2020. In particular, a new Committee on International Trade (INTA), which is relatively new in this field (see EUROPE 12296/7). Completed in December 2015, the so-called “new generation” free trade agreement, the first of its kind with a developing country, is expected to abolish 99% of bilateral trade tariffs over 10 years. At the next INTA coordinators’ meeting, on Monday 23 September, legislative dossiers will be assigned to the rapporteurs of the different political groups. This is a step that will make it possible to launch the work and set the parliamentary committee's timetable for the coming months. (HD)