FTAs empower goods to reach a wider market.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Ranking second nationwide in the Free Trade Agreement Implementation Index (FTA Index), Thanh Hoa is affirming its increasingly deep integration capacity. This is not just a "beautiful number," but also proof of the effort to transform trade commitments into practical advantages, helping businesses expand further in the international market.

VINAGREEN Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (Trieu Son) is finalizing standards for exporting goods to the Japanese, German, Chinese, and Indonesian markets. Photo: Tung Lam

With export turnover consistently ranging from 5 to 6 billion USD per year, Thanh Hoa is emerging as one of the bright spots for exports in the North Central region. Goods exports in April 2025 continued to increase by 4.2% compared to the previous month and by 16.9% compared to the same period last year. This is a positive figure in the context of a still unstable global economy . The structure of goods is shifting in a positive direction, focusing on key sectors such as textiles, seafood, paving stones, and processed agricultural products. This achievement stems not only from the internal capacity of businesses but also from their keenness in exploiting opportunities from the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to which Vietnam is a member. Effectively utilizing FTAs ​​not only helps businesses expand their markets but also creates a competitive advantage through tariff preferences, shortened supply chains, and improved product standards.

Thanh Hoa Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Thanh Hoa City) is one of the leading companies in leveraging FTAs ​​to expand its market. With a deep understanding of the market and flexible adaptation, even during difficult times like 2022 and 2023, the company maintained a basic production volume of approximately 14,000 tons of clams, equivalent to revenue of 700 billion VND; and 800 tons of fish paste and fish meal, generating revenue of 1,000 billion VND. Company Director Trinh Thi Cuc shared: “Free trade agreements have enabled the company to access many demanding markets around the world in America, Europe, and parts of Asia. In 2025, the company expects stable orders from diverse markets, ensuring factory capacity and employment for workers. The company is aiming for export revenue of 30 million USD in 2025.”

Currently, Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements (FTAs). Hundreds of businesses in the province have been effectively exploiting tariff preferences, reducing costs, expanding orders, and improving production standards. According to the Department of Industry and Trade, to date, 111 businesses in the province participate in exporting to member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), 101 businesses export to the EU market thanks to the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA); 24 businesses access the UK market through the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), and 303 businesses conduct trade with countries belonging to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Continuing to extensively exploit markets with FTAs ​​not only helps businesses reduce tariff costs but also "forces" them to continuously upgrade production processes, standardize products, and build sustainable brands.

To facilitate businesses' access to FTAs, Thanh Hoa province has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions, including: organizing in-depth training and workshops on rules of origin and technical standards of major markets; providing direct consultation to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them understand information and effectively implement FTA commitments; promoting trade, connecting international distribution systems, and expanding export channels; and coordinating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to build a market map platform and FTA database to support businesses in quickly and accurately searching for information. Simultaneously, the province is focusing on improving logistics infrastructure for exports, promoting investment in specialized industrial zones and clusters linked to raw material sources, creating a solid foundation for businesses to expand their scale and enhance production capacity to international standards.

According to the 2024 FTA Index for localities, Thanh Hoa province achieved 34.13 points, ranking second nationwide. This result affirms the significant efforts of the local Party committee, government, and business community in effectively utilizing opportunities from FTAs ​​to enhance competitiveness, integrate into the international economy, and expand export markets. The FTA Index is built on four main pillars: FTA dissemination and awareness campaigns; implementation of FTA legal regulations; policies supporting enhanced competitiveness; and implementation of sustainable development commitments. Among these, Thanh Hoa province was assessed as achieving the best results in the implementation of policies supporting enhanced business competitiveness.

Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Textile and Garment Association, Trinh Xuan Lam, stated: “The province and relevant departments and agencies are closely monitoring the implementation of FTA policies, supporting businesses in understanding import and export regulations, especially regarding traceability and green production. Businesses are increasingly focusing on complying with international standards and building capacity to meet the demands of FTA markets. Notably, many businesses in the industry are increasingly equipped with and enhancing their proactive approach, focusing on investing in environmentally friendly technologies, improving designs, and saving energy – factors that help them compete effectively in high-end markets such as the EU, Japan, and Canada.”

During the 2021-2025 period, the total value of goods exported from Thanh Hoa province is estimated to reach over 30 billion USD, with an average annual increase of 15.5%. Besides the opportunities opened up by FTAs, Thanh Hoa's exports are also facing numerous challenges, especially in the context of volatile global trade. The fact that the US and some other countries are considering increasing import tariffs on Asian goods creates an urgent need to diversify markets and reduce dependence on risky partners. With a solid foundation of integration and strong determination from the government and business community, Thanh Hoa has a great opportunity to assert its role as an attractive destination in the global supply chain. Effectively utilizing FTAs ​​is the "key" to the province's strong export breakthrough in the coming period.

Tung Lam

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/fta-tiep-suc-cho-hang-hoa-vuon-tam-248175.htm