On August 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the AEM-CER Consultation held in Semarang, Indonesia, the Economic Ministers from Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, along with Australia and New Zealand, signed the Second Protocol amending the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (hereinafter referred to as the Second Protocol). Authorized by the Government in Resolution No. 07/NQ-CP dated January 5, 2024, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam signed the Second Protocol in a rotating manner on January 25, 2024.

On May 20, 2025, the Government of Viet Nam issued a resolution approving the Second Protocol. On that basis, on June 25, 2025, the ASEAN Secretariat sent letter No. 600-2025 notifying Viet Nam's approval of the Second Protocol. Accordingly, the Second Protocol will take effect for Viet Nam on August 22, 2025.

To implement Viet Nam's commitments regarding the origin of goods under the Second Protocol, the Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgates Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BCT dated July 7, 2025, implementing the rules of origin for goods in the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (hereinafter referred to as the "Circular"), replacing (1) Circular No. 31/2015/TT-BCT dated September 24, 2015, of the Minister of Industry and Trade implementing the rules of origin in the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, (2) Circular No. 07/2020/TT-BCT dated March 30, 2020, of the Minister of Industry and Trade amending Circular No. 31/2015/TT-BCT, and (3) Circular No. 02/2024/TT-BCT dated January 15, 2024, of the Minister of Industry and Trade amending Circular No. 31/2015/TT-BCT.

The Circular consists of 4 Chapters, 36 Articles, and 5 Appendices.

The 4 Chapters include:

• Chapter I: General Provisions

• Chapter II: Rules of Origin for Goods

• Chapter III: Certification and Inspection of Goods' Origin

• Chapter IV: Implementation Provisions

The Appendices include:

• Appendix I: Product Specific Rules

• Appendix II: Minimum Data Requirements of Certificates of Origin 

• Appendix III: C/O Form AANZ

• Appendix IV: Additional Declaration Form of C/O AANZ

• Appendix V: Form for Exporters to declare FOB Value

Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BCT of the Minister of Industry and Trade will take effect from August 22, 2025./.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam