Detail

Viet Nam Hosts National Workshops in Regional Series to Advance AANZFTA Commitments on Services Liberalisation

VIETNAM, 26 AUGUST 2025 – As part of a regional, multi-country capacity building program involving Viet Nam, the Philippines, and Thailand, Regional Trade for Development (RT4D), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam (MoIT), is hosting two workshops in Ho Chi Minh City on 26 August and Hai Phong on 29 August to support Vietnam in transitioning to the Negative List approach under the upgraded Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).

These events build on a Regional Workshop in Hanoi in June 2025 and will be followed by sessions in Thailand and the Philippines in late October 2025, reflecting AANZFTA Parties’ collaborative approach to economic cooperation. They bring together officials, trade negotiators, and private sector representatives across borders to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure commitments are met under the AANZFTA Upgrade.

Under the Negative List approach, all service sectors are open to trade unless specifically listed as restricted, creating greater transparency, predictability, and opportunities for businesses across the region. This shift is expected to boost market access, foster deeper regional integration, and ensure more inclusive benefits, including for enterprises led by women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups.

Tailored to Vietnam’s specific needs, the Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City workshops will bring together around 40 participants in each city, including legislators, trade negotiators, and relevant regulators. The full-day programs will combine expert presentations, interactive discussions, and practical exercises to strengthen understanding of the Negative List approach under the Second Protocol.
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These events build on a Regional Workshop in Hanoi in June 2025 and will be followed by sessions in Thailand and the Philippines in late October 2025, reflecting AANZFTA Parties’ collaborative approach to economic cooperation. They bring together officials, trade negotiators, and private sector representatives across borders to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure commitments are met under the AANZFTA Upgrade.

Under the Negative List approach, all service sectors are open to trade unless specifically listed as restricted, creating greater transparency, predictability, and opportunities for businesses across the region. This shift is expected to boost market access, foster deeper regional integration, and ensure more inclusive benefits, including for enterprises led by women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups.

Tailored to Vietnam’s specific needs, the Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City workshops will bring together around 40 participants in each city, including legislators, trade negotiators, and relevant regulators. The full-day programs will combine expert presentations, interactive discussions, and practical exercises to strengthen understanding of the Negative List approach under the Second Protocol.

About The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D)

The $48.7million Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative, funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). RT4D supports AMS in benefitting from an open, free and rules-based trading system.

Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

The Regional Trade for Development Initiative:

provides ASEAN with access to world-class technical expertise to support economic cooperation activities.
delivers economic cooperation activities, working closely with ASEAN Member States and ASEAN Secretariat.
has a strong focus on less developed ASEAN economies to ensure that it responds to the different needs and readiness of ASEAN.
facilitates implementation of the provisions of selected FTAs to support inclusive development outcomes.

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