RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/VNM/22
24 October 2002
(02-5863)
Working Party on the
Accession of Viet NamOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF VIET NAM
Action Plan for Implementing the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has submitted an Action Plan for
Implementing the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, with the request that it be
circulated to the members of the Working Party.WT/ACC/VNM/22
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Action Plan for Implementing the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures
Major obligations of LIC AgreementPhasing out
period
General obligation
Rules and all information concerning procedures  for the submission of applications are
to be published, whenever practicable, 21 days prior to the effective date of the
requirement but in all events not later than the effective date(Article 1.4.a).1/1/2006
Applicants are to be allowed a reasonable period to submit licence applications. Where
there is a closing date for applications, this period should be at least 21 days(Article 1.6).1/1/2005
The number of administrative bodies which an applicant has to approach in connection
with an applications is 01, and in any special cases, not to exceed 03.
(Article 1.6)1/1/2005
Foreign exchange for licensed imports is to be allocated on the same basis as for goods
not requiring import licences
(Article 1.9).1/1/2005
Application forms are as simple as possibl e, requiring only necessary information
(Article 1.5).1/1/2005
Applications are not to be refused for minor documentation errors if they are not enough
to alter basic information contained in the applications(Article 1.7).1/1/2005
Licensed imports are not to be refused for minor variations in value, quantity or weight
from the amount shown on the licence for reasons consistent with normal commercialpractices
(Article 1.8)1/1/2005
Members are to apply import licensing procedures neutrally, and administer them in a
fair and equitable manner(Article 1.3)1/1/2005
Members are required to submit copies of publications containing information on import
licensing procedures to the WTO Secretariat(Article 1.8).Upon accession
Automatic Licensing
Automatic licensing procedures are not to be  administered in such a way as to have
restrictive effects on imports(Article 2.2.a).1/1/2005
Any person, firm or institution fulfilling the legal requirements should be equally eligible
to apply for and obtain import licences. Licence applications may be submitted on any
working day before customs clearance; they shall be approved immediately on receipt
but in any case within 10 working days(Article 2.2.a)1/1/2005
It is to be removed as soon as the circumst ances which have given rise to its introduction
no longer prevail(Article 2.2.b)1/1/2005
Non-automatic licensing
In cases where import licenses are used to ad minister quotas, all relevant information,
including exceptions or derogations, quota amounts, opening and closing dates of quotasand country-specific quota allocations have to be published 21 days prior to the effective
date of the requirement, and in all events not later than the effective date
(Articles 3.5. b.c.d).1/1/2006
If not for the purpose of  quota administration, member have to publish sufficient
information for other members and trader s to know the basis for granting and/or
allocating licences.(Article 3.3)1/1/2006WT/ACC/VNM/22
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Major obligations of LIC AgreementPhasing out
period
The period for processing applications shall not be longer than 30 days if applications areconsidered as and when received, and not longer than 60 days if applications areconsidered simultaneously(Article 3.5.f).1/1/2006
The validity of a licence is to be of reasonable duration and not be so short as to preclude
imports, including those from distant sources
(Article 3.5.g). Licences are to be issued in economic quantities
(Article 3.5.i)1/1/2005
Members are to provide, upon the request of any Member having an interest in the trade
in the product concerned, all relevant information(Article 3.5.a).Upon accession
Non-automatic import licensing must not have restrictive or distortive effects on imports
additional to those caused by the imposition of the restriction. If a licence is refused, theapplicant, on request, shall be given the reason for refusal(Article 3.2).1/1/2005
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