Ministry of Industry and Trade creates policies, widens the path for businesses to enter FTA markets

Participation in free trade agreements (FTAs) is considered an important driving force to expand exports, increase trade scale and increase competitiveness for Vietnamese goods. In that context, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and management agencies are gradually perfecting mechanisms, legal corridors and support ecosystems to help businesses better take advantage of incentives from new-generation FTAs.

To better understand the role of FTA, support policies and solutions to promote access to this market, reporters of Industry and Trade Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Chairman of Hanoi Textile and Apparel Association.

- How do you evaluate the role and significance of free trade agreements for Vietnamese export enterprises?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong : Vietnam has participated in, signed and implemented 17 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including important agreements such as: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

FTAs contribute to expanding export markets, creating great opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access the world's leading economies. In particular, key products such as textiles, footwear, agricultural products, seafood, wood, steel, aluminum, etc. continuously expand their market share in major markets. There is still a lot of room for development when the demand for Vietnamese goods in many countries is highly appreciated for their quality and competitive prices.

*Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Chairman of Hanoi Textile and Garment Association, answered an interview with Cong Thuong Newspaper. Photo: Phong Lam*

-So how do you evaluate the role of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in creating policies to support businesses in taking advantage of opportunities from FTAs?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong : According to the information I know, to optimize the benefits from FTAs and support businesses to participate in international trade, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is actively coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to conduct surveys and research to build an ecosystem to take advantage of free trade agreements (FTA ecosystem) to better exploit incentives from FTAs, especially new generation FTAs.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proactively issued many circulars guiding the implementation of trade defense commitments in FTAs, such as Circular 19/2019/TT-BCT on CPTPP, Circular 30/2020/TT-BCT on EVFTA, Circular 14/2021/TT-BCT for UKVFTA and Circular 07/2022/TT-BCT on RCEP. These are efforts to ensure that the tariff reduction process does not create a shock to the domestic manufacturing industry, while providing a legal framework for businesses to respond to trade defense cases.

In addition, many conferences and seminars with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Department of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities have also contributed to solving many difficulties and problems for businesses exporting to FTA markets.

-Can you share solutions to help businesses access the FTA market more effectively in the coming time?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong : For government agencies in general, I think it is necessary to have a mechanism to support credit and export insurance; promote trade; diversify markets and reform administrative procedures to shorten time, reduce costs and increase transparency in the export process.

On the part of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, it is necessary to continue to accompany businesses, share difficulties and find timely solutions for businesses. In the coming time, we can focus on solutions to promote administrative procedure reform, digitize the C/O issuance process, proactively upgrade information technology infrastructure and equipment systems to ensure smooth C/O issuance. Thereby, supporting export businesses to save time and costs.

Some other key measures that need to be promoted include promoting trade to diversify markets by region and preferential FTA groups; supporting training and consulting to improve product standards, meeting new traceability and tariff requirements; and proposing mechanisms to remove difficulties in industrial parks, especially for key industrial enterprises.

In particular, units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade such as the Import-Export Department, the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, and the Foreign Market Development Department need to provide updated information on international trade policies, export market expansion orientations, operational scenarios, and recommendations for responding to technical barriers and new tariff regulations. This information helps businesses be more proactive in planning business strategies, ensuring stable production, and making the most of opportunities from FTAs.

Finally, I believe that close coordination between the Central, local, state management agencies and the business community will be the decisive factor to enhance export capacity and improve the FTA Index rankings of localities in Vietnam.

On September 23, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed and issued Directive No. 29/CT-TTg on implementing key tasks and solutions to promote exports and develop foreign markets.
In the Directive, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to implement many key tasks to promote exports and expand markets. Closely monitor the market situation and trade policies of countries to promptly propose solutions to remove difficulties.
At the same time, promote the effective exploitation of signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), focusing on business connection activities, trade promotion, and supporting businesses to take advantage of opportunities from FTAs...

Source: https://congthuong.vn/bo-cong-thuong-kien-tao-chinh-sach-doanh-nghiep-rong-duong-vao-thi-truong-fta-430668.html