WT/REG436/M/1  
 
19 April 2024  
(24-3256) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Hundred and Ninth Session   
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM  AND VIET NAM  
(GOODS AND SERVICES ) 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 8 APRIL 2024  
Chair: Ambassador H.E. Ms. Clare KELLY (New Zealand)  
1.1.  The 10 9th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter "CRTA" or the 
"Committee") was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/34/Rev.1  dated 28 March  2024. 
1.2.  Under Agenda Item 8. 4, the CRTA considered the Agreement establishing a Free Trade 
Agreement between the United Kingdom and Viet Nam , goods and  services , (hereinafter "the 
Agreement").  The Chair stated that the Factual Presentation had been prepared by the Secretariat 
on its own responsibility in full consultation with the Parties,  in accordance with paragraph 7(b) of 
the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (document WT/L/671 ). 
1.3.  The Agreement had entered into force on 1  January  2021. It had been  notified to the WTO by 
the Parties on 31 December  2020 under Articles  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT  1994 and Article  V:7(a) of 
the GATS as an agreement establish ing a free trade area for trade in goods, within the meaning of 
Article XXIV of the GATT 1994, and for trade in services, within the meaning of Article V of t he GATS 
(documents WT/REG436/N/1  and S/C/N/1032  respectively).  The text of the Agreement, together 
with its Annexes, was available on the Parties' official websites and in the WTO RTA database.  The 
Factual Presentation, document  WT/REG436/1 , and questions a nd replies, document WT/REG436/2 , 
had been distributed.  
1.4.  The representative of the United Kingdom , also on behalf of Viet Nam , delivered a joint 
statement on the  Agreement, which had been provisionally applied from 1 January 2021 and had 
officially entered into force on 1 May 2021.  He thanked the delegation of Viet Nam for its important 
contributions in drafting and agreeing the statement.  
1.5.  The Agreement reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Viet Nam and 
provided important continuity and predictability for stakeholders in both countries . Total trade in 
goods and services between the UK and Viet Nam was GBP 6.2 billion in the four quarters to  the end 
of Q3 2023 – an increase  of GBP 1.2 billion  since 2020.  
1.6.  The Agreement aim ed to ensure continuity in the UK -Viet Nam trading relationship, 
incorporating relevant provisions of the existing EU -Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) mutatis 
mutandis  via a short -form agreement. The Agreement was broad, covering market liberalisation for 
goods, services and investment, as well as chapters on government procurement, State-owned 
enterprises, and market competition. This include d tariff elimination, which would increase to 99% 
of tariffs after 6 -9 years following entry into force, simplification of customs procedures, and market 
access for a wide range of services sectors.  
1.7.  There were also commitments in the Agreement relating to trade and sustainable develop ment, 
including labour, the environment, and corporate social responsibility.  The vast majority of changes 
made through the short -form agreement had been  relate d to replacing references to the EU and its 
Member States, for example, territorial application and removing non -UK geographical indications.  WT/REG436/M/1  
 
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  1.8.  Substantive adjustments mostly relate d to adjusting the Agreement to the UK -Viet Nam 
bilateral context. These adjustments include d modification of tariff rate quota volumes, and rules of 
origin to allow EU mate rials to be considered as originating in either Party if sufficiently worked or 
processed. Cumulation of processing was also permitted, meaning working or processing carried out 
in the EU was considered as having been carried out in the UK when products ob tained had 
undergo ne subsequent sufficient working or processing in the UK.  
1.9.  The Agreement also contain ed various time commitments to ensure the Agreement continue d 
to work for both Parties.  For instance, acknowledging the importance of the rice sector to Viet Nam’s 
economy, the Agreement  contain ed a clause wherein the UK and Viet Nam were to consider 
reviewing the appropriateness of tariff rate quotas for rice. In line with the text of the Agreement, 
the UK and Viet Nam had discussed this at the Trade Committee established under the Agreement . 
1.10.   The Agreement  also contain ed provisions for a review of administrative arrangements for 
rules of origin cumulation with the EU. This had been included t o ensure that the cumulation 
provision would function as intended regardless of the eventual arrangement between the UK and 
the EU. With the UK -EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, this review had not been 
required. Also, five years after the entry  into force of the Agreement, the UK and Viet Nam were to 
consider extending temporary presence of natural persons provisions to independent professionals. 
Longer term review clauses included within the Agreement  cover ed the review of electronic auction 
provisions, the broadening of the scope of commitments on sector -specific non -tariff measures on 
goods, and negotiations on the coverage of additional sub -central government entities.  
1.11.   Most of the institutional arrangements of the Agreement were covered by th e established 
Trade Committee. The Committee was co-chaired by Trade Ministers and me t annually, unless it 
decided otherwise, or, in urgent cases, at the request of a Party. The Trade Committee ensure d 
proper operation of the Agreement , supervise d and faci litated implementation of the Agreement, 
and supervise d, coordinate d, and evaluate d the work and decisions of other specialised committees 
and working groups. It also consider ed ways to further enhance the UK and Viet Nam’s bilateral 
trade and investment r elations and sought to solve problems which might  have arisen in areas 
covered by the Agreement. There were also five specialised committees and two working groups 
established under the auspices of the Trade Committee, which typically  met yearly unless oth erwise 
agreed by the UK and Viet Nam.  A Joint Forum, made up of members of the domestic advisory 
groups of each Party, had also been established under the Committee on Trade and Sustainable 
Development, and met alongside the Committee each year.  
1.12.   The UK and Viet Nam remain ed committed to deepening, strengthening, and diversifying their 
economic ties, building on a strong and growing trad e partnership, including through Committees 
established under the Agreement , and their Joint Economic and Trade Committee, which was in its 
fourteenth year.  
1.13.   The representative of Japan  recognized the great efforts of the United Kingdom and Viet Nam, 
and th e Secretariat in preparing the factual presentation and thanked the Parties for their 
comprehensive explanations. He also expressed Japan's  sincere appreciation for the prompt reply to 
its written questions.  
1.14.   The representative of the United States  thanked the United Kingdom and Viet Nam for their 
work in preparing the notification and for the information they had shared that day. 
1.15.   The representative of the European Union  also thanked the Parties for the  presentations and 
wished them success in the implementa tion of the Agreement.  
1.16.   The Chair noted the consideration of the  goods and services aspect of the Free Trade 
Agreement between the United Kingdom and Viet Nam , had allowed the Committee to clarify a 
number of questions and conclude oral discussion of the RTA in accordance with paragraph 11 of 
the Transparency Mechanism . Any delegations wishing to ask follow -up questions were invited to 
forward submissions in writing to the Secretariat by 15  April 2024 and Parties were asked to submit 
replies in writing by no later than 29 April 2024. In accordance with paragraph  13 of the Transparency 
Mechanism all written submissions, as well  as minutes of the meeting would be circulated promptly, 
in all WTO  official languages, and made available in the WTO database on RTAs.  WT/REG436/M/1  
 
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  1.17.   The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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