The member countries will spend a period expected to be 18 months, to ratify the Agreement. In Vietnam, RCEP is in the process of submitting to the Government for ratification, as well as developing a detailed plan for implementation. The process is expected to be completed in late 2021 or early 2022.

Commitment on Tariff 

• According to Vietnam's commitments, Vietnam has 06 schedules of tariff schedule commitments for 06 countries/groups of countries, including ASEAN, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China and South Korea.
• Currently, the current ASEAN Plus Free Trade Agreements (of which Vietnam is a member) have been offering relatively high preferences for tariff liberalization. RCEP builds on existing tariff reduction commitments and will eliminate about 90% of import tariffs within 20 years from the date of entry into force of the Agreement.
• The tariff schedule commitments of Vietnam as well as those of the countries in the RCEP has the longest term of 25 years.

Rules of Origin and Self-Certification of Origin

• RCEP provides for harmonization and simplification of the Rules of Origin. These rules include provisions allowing the accumulation of originating materials, of any RCEP countries, to continue to be included in the originating material of the final finished product, and to enjoy the preferential tariff rate when circulating between the member countries of the Agreement.
• In addition, the self-certification mechanism of origin will be applied by Vietnam and most of its member countries (except Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar) after no more than 10 years from the date of entry into force of the Agreement.

Trade facilitation

RCEP also includes commitments on trade facilitation and implementation of customs procedures, standard and technical regulations, specifically:

• Transparency and simplification of customs procedures: Timely disclosure of information on the Internet; Measure and publish the results of clearance,
• Apply information technology to support customs operations based on internationally accepted standards for fast customs clearance,
• Trade facilitation for “Authorized Economic Operators” and allow negotiation for mutual recognition of “Authorized Economic Operators” programs,
• The Complaints and Appeals Regulations allow any individual to whom an administrative decision has been issued by a Customs authority, within its territory, to have the right to complain and protest on a non-discriminatory basis.