MULTILATERAL TRADE POLICY DEPARTMENT
FUCNTIONS, TASKS, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADE POLICY DEPARTMENT
(Accroding to Decision No. 3777/QD-BCT dated 2 October 2017 of the Minister of Industry and Trade on the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department)
Position and functions
The Multilateral Trade Policy Department is an organization under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, performing the function of advising and assisting the Minister of Industry and Trade in the state management of economic and trade integration within the cooperation framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ASEAN; ASEAN and its partners (ASEAN +); Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Asia - Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM); the United Nations Trade and Development Forum (UNCTAD) and other international economic and trade organizations, and negotiating international treaties on trade as stipulated by laws.
Main tasks
1. Related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations:
a) Take the lead or cooperate with relevant agencies to develop guidelines, mechanisms and policies on international economic integration within the framework of WTO, APEC, ASEM and other international economic and trade organizations for the Minister to submit to the competent authorities for approval; organize the implementation after it is approved as assigned by the Minister;
b) Consolidate, draft and submit to the Minister or Head of the Government negotiation team for approval of plans to negotiate, sign or join multilateral or regional international agreements on trade and with other international organizations as assigned by the Minister;
c) Represent Vietnam's commercial interests, propose plans and organize the implementation of Vietnam's economic and trade-related rights and obligations at the WTO, APEC, ASEM and other international economic organizations and forums as assigned by the Minister;
d) Take the lead or cooperate in formulating and guiding the implementation of domestic policies related to Vietnam's economic and trade commitments in the framework of WTO, APEC, ASEM and other international economic and trade organizations as assigned by the Minister;
e) Take the lead or participate in the settlement of economic and trade disputes within the WTO framework as assigned by the Minister;
f) Take the lead or participate in propagating, disseminating, guiding, urging and inspecting the implementation of Vietnam's economic and trade commitments in the WTO, APEC, ASEM and other international economic and trade organizations as assigned by the Minister;
g) Assume the role of Vietnam’s Head of SOM in APEC; Vietnam's SOMTI Head in ASEM as assigned by the Minister;
2. Related to ASEAN economic integration:
a) Take the lead or coordinate with relevant agencies in studying and drafting plans and schemes of Vietnam's orientations and strategies to participate in economic cooperation within ASEAN and together with ASEAN countries to participate in ASEAN + economic cooperation, and submit them to the Minister for further submission the Government or the Politburo;
b) Take the lead or coordinate with relevant agencies to draft agreement text, propose negotiation plans and assist the Minister in negotiating, signing or joining international treaties within the framework of ASEAN and ASEAN+ as assigned by the Government;
c) Take the lead or coordinate with relevant agencies to the develop and guiding the implementation of mechanisms, policies and legal documents related to Vietnam's economic and trade commitments within the framework of ASEAN, ASEAN + as assigned by the Minister;
d) Study regulations, monitor and participate in economic cooperation activities of ASEAN, other international and regional economic and trade organizations and forums in which Vietnam and ASEAN participate in order to propose with the Minister the solutions and measures to exercise Vietnam's rights and obligations as a member;
e) Summarize information on ASEAN economic cooperation, play the role of the focal point for ASEAN economic integration, study and propose options and solutions to assist the Minister in performing the function of the Minister in charge of ASEAN economic integration as assigned by the Prime Minister;
f) Take the lead or coordinate with relevant agencies to develop plans and implement the results of annual meetings and cooperation activities within the framework of ASEAN, ASEAN+ in assigned sectors at all levels (expert level, department level, ministerial level, and Summit level) that Vietnam participates as a member of ASEAN;
g) Take the lead or participate in disseminating, propagating, guiding and organizing the implementation of economic and commercial commitments and other issues related to economic and trade cooperation that Vietnam has signed or participated in within the framework of ASEAN, ASEAN +;
h) Play the role of Vietnam's national focal point in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA);
i) Play the role of Vietnam's national focal point in the ASEAN trade and investment dispute settlement (ACT) mechanism;
k) Take the lead or cooperate in handling economic and trade disputes when implementing commitments within the framework of ASEAN and ASEAN +;
l) Take the lead or coordinate with functional departments, relevant ministries and agencies to propose solutions for the development of relationships with ASEAN members, other countries, and international partner organizations of ASEAN;
m) Take the lead or participate in the coordination of cooperation projects in which Vietnam participates within the framework of ASEAN and ASEAN + as assigned by the Minister;
n) Take the lead or participate in the coordination of activities related to international economic integration within the framework of ASEAN and ASEAN + as assigned by the Minister;
3. Formulate and summarize negotiation plans, negotiate and organize the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and international trade treaties as assigned by the Minister;
4. Prepare periodic and ad-hoc reports on assessment of the performance of WTO, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM and other international organizations in the fields of economy, trade and industry.
5. Take the lead or coordinate with relevant agencies to formulate and submit to the Minister for promulgation the mechanisms, policies and legal documents related to international economic integration, plans and programs for participation in international organizations and multilateral economic relations.
6. Receive and organize the management and coordination of foreign technical assistance within the framework of international economic and trade organizations under the department functions or as assigned by the Minister.
7. Coordinate with the Department of Organization and Personnel in performing the state management of professional and trade associations operating in the fields under their management as stipulated by laws.
8. To perform other duties assigned by the Minister.
Organizational structure and working regime
1. The Department's leaders include General Director and Deputy Directors who are appointed, dismissed, transferred, rotated, commended and disciplined by the Minister of Industry and Trade as stipulated by laws.
2. The Department operates under the head regime, by which the General Director is responsible to the Minister for the tasks specified in Article 2 and the following specific tasks and powers:
a) Organize, direct the implementation and take responsibility to the Minister for the affairs of the Department;
b) Assign tasks and inspect the implementation of the duties of the Deputy Director, Head, Deputy Head of the Division and public servants of the Department;
c) By order of the Minister, to sign a number of documents to answer, explain, provide professional guidance, and coordinate activities at the request of agencies, organizations and individuals related to the functions and duties of management of the Department;
d) Provide information to civil servants in the Department according to the Ministry's working regulations;
e) Decide the contents of the reports on summary of activities and propose to the Minister policies and solutions in implementing the Department's tasks;
f) Promulgate the internal rules and regulations of the Department, organize the implementation of rules and regulations of the Ministries and ministerial agencies, manage public servants and assets as decentralized by the Ministry.
3. The Multilateral Trade Policy Department is organized into three divisions:
a) ASEAN Division;
b) WTO and Trade Negotiation Division;
c) APEC and International Economic Cooperation Division
Leaders of the divisions include heads and deputy heads, who are appointed, dismissed, transferred, rotated, commended, or disciplined by the Minister as stipulated by laws.
The General Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department specifies the functions, duties and powers of the Divisions according to applicable regulations.
