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THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE ASEAN – AUSTRALIA – NEW ZEALAND FREE TRADE AREA (AANZFTA)

Australia and New Zealand's commitment on tariff for Vietnam

  • Since 2015, Australia has eliminated tariffs for about 97% of tariff lines (only maintaining a low tariff less than 10% for some products such as bamboo shoots, surgical threads, wood and wood products, iron and steel products, fabrics ...)
  • Since 2015, New Zealand has eliminated tariffs for about 91% of tariff lines (only maintaining low tariff less than 10% for some products such as cakes, sweets, cereal products, wood and wood products, chemicals, components, auto parts, machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts, computers, electronic products and components,…)
  • By 2022 (at the end of the schedule), both Australia and New Zealand will completely eliminate tariffs (all Tariffs) for goods from ASEAN countries.

Vietnam's commitment

  • Since 2018, 86% of tax lines in the Tariff will be eliminated.
  • By 2022 (at the end of the schedule), 92% of tariff lines in the Tariff will be eliminated (including items such as livestock; pharmaceuticals; sugar; rice; wood; paper; chemicals; cosmetics; etc.)
  • 8% of the remaining tax lines will be reduced according to a separate schedule or maintained at the same rate (for example, goods such as fruits (oranges, tangerines); alcohol, cigars, petroleum, tobacco leaves, steel products, etc.)

A good is considered to be AANZFTA originating if the good is wholly obtained or produced in a member country, or it meets either of the following conditions:

      • Goods meets the general criteria:
        • Regional Value Content (RVC): 40% minimum, or
        • Change Tariff classification at the 4-digit level (CTH – non-originating materials must be in a different HS Group from the HS Group of the finished product)
      • Goods with specific rules: some goods do not apply the general criteria, but the product specific rules applied to them are specified in the List of Product-Specific Rules.

AANZFTA Certificate of Origin is the AANZ C/O form. Vietnam and ASEAN countries issue a paper C/O while Australia and New Zealand issue an electronic C/O, so the electronic C/O AANZ issued by Australia/New Zealand will be printed out and submitted to the customs offices of ASEAN importing countries. Error AANZ C/O can be corrected or renewed. C/O AANZ can be issued before, during or after (no more than 1 year) the time of export. AANZFTA does not have a provision for Self-Certification of Origin.

Vietnam's commitment on opening up the service market in AANZFTA is equivalent to that of Vietnam's WTO accession commitments, except that education services are broader than WTO commitments, mainly in terms of scope.

The chapter on Investment in AANZFTA is the largest one of investment commitments that Vietnam has signed before, include both liberalization (opening to foreign investment) and principles of treatment and investment protection. However, many contents in this Chapter have not taken effect immediately but depend on further negotiations between the Parties. The commitments that have not taken effect immediately mainly relate to the principle of expropriation of investors, compensation in case of armed conflict, and settlement of international investment disputes (ISDS).