G/LIC/Q/VNM/5  
 
27 February 2014  
(14-1208)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF VIET NAM 
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO VIET NAM 
The following communication, dated 21 February 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States. 
 
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 The United States wishes to call Viet Nam’s attention to G/LIC/Q/VNM/4, 8 April 2013, and G/LIC/Q/VNM/4/Corr.1, 11 April 2013.  To date, we do not have a response to our questions from 
Viet Nam nor have we received Viet Nam’s response to the annual Questionnaire in accordance 
with Article 7.3 of the WTO Import Licensing Pr ocedures Agreement.  The United States is 
disappointed with Viet Nam’s lack of response and remains concerned that the government has not 
properly notified its import licensing regime pursuant to the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing.   
We strongly urge Viet Nam to meet its WTO obligations in the context of the Import Licensing Procedures Agreement.  Transparency is at th e core of the Agreement, and all WTO Members, 
developing and developed, are responsible for upholding this basic tenet.  The United States will 
continue to ask all relevant questions until we receive a complete and detailed picture of Viet Nam’s import licensing regime in light of the Import Licensing Procedures Agreement.  Could Viet Nam provide an update on when it will assume its responsibilities in this regard? 
 
In addition to responding to the questions we have been asking (see especially G/LIC/Q/VNM/4, 8 April 2013 and G/LIC/Q/VNM/4/Corr.1, 11 April 2013), our attention has recently been drawn to 
specific import licensing concerns involving distilled spirits.  We understand that a new system of 
trading licenses that establishes three types of licenses (liquor distribution licenses, liquor wholesale licenses, and liquor retail licenses), provides that only enterprises with liquor distribution 
licenses are permitted to directly import liquor, and establishes tight quotas for each category of 
trading license.  In contrast, domestic producers are permitted to organize their own distribution 
networks and may sell their products at retail without being required to obtain a distribution, wholesale or retail license.   
 
- When will Viet Nam notify the “DECREE  ON WINE PRODUCTION AND WINE TRADING,” 
No. 94/2012/ND-CP,  Hanoi, 12 November 2012, to the Import Licensing Committee in 
accordance with Articles 1.4, 5, and 8.2 of the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures? 
- Please describe how Viet Nam’s licensing regime fulfils the requirements of Article 3 of the 
Import Licensing Procedures Agreement. 
- Please describe how the three types of licenses -- how they are processed, distributed, and 
administered -- fulfil the requirements of Ar ticle 1.2 of the Import Licensing Procedures 
Agreement.  Please also explain how the requirements imposed on importers accord with the 
national treatment provisions of the GATT 1994. 
- For what purpose are import licenses required?  For what purpose are licenses required as 
well at the wholesale and retail level?  Which GATT 1994 article allows Viet Nam to establish 
a quota in the first place? 
- What is the underlying reason for limiting the quantity of wine distribution, wine wholesaling 
and wine retailing based on population?  How is “population” defined?   
- Why are the import-licensing rules for small-scale production of “wine” different from any 
other kind of production for sale? 
- Why is each trader issued only one kind of license for wine trading?  G/LIC/Q/VNM/5 
 
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  - How will Viet Nam structure its licensing procedures to ensure that new entrants will be 
allowed access to the market? 
- Where are the fees for each wine license, as  prescribed by the Ministry of Finance, 
published? 
 
 
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