Second Special ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting on Negotiations to Upgrade the ATIGA Agreement

On May 9, the second Special ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting on negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) took place online.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and included representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice , and units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In the context of a rapidly changing and unpredictable global trade environment, ASEAN Economic Ministers shared the view that the completion of negotiations to upgrade the ATIGA Agreement will send positive signals to the business community about ASEAN's strong commitment to regional economic integration through reducing trade barriers, facilitating trade and improving supply chain connectivity, as well as affirming ASEAN's support for an open, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers highly appreciated the efforts of the ATIGA Negotiation Committee (TNC) and technical groups in the process of negotiating the ATIGA upgrade over the past time; at the same time, they noted that after 14 official negotiation sessions, ASEAN countries have now completed nearly 98% of the negotiation progress.

At the Conference, the Chairman of the TNC Committee reported to the Ministers on outstanding issues in a number of areas such as: Rules of origin, refurbished goods, transparency, tariff liberalization, effective terms of the upgraded ATIGA Agreement... and made recommendations to address these issues.

The Ministers also provided necessary directions towards a flexible, practical and mutually beneficial negotiation conclusion plan, thereby reaffirming the commitment to complete negotiations and sign the upgraded ATIGA Agreement according to the plan agreed upon by the parties.

On the Vietnamese side, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien supported the early conclusion of negotiations to upgrade the ATIGA Agreement and welcomed the positive working results of the TNC Committee and technical groups in recent times.

Sharing Vietnam's viewpoint and expressing the utmost goodwill and flexibility on remaining issues to promote the negotiation process, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien called on countries to continue promoting the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, together resolving remaining differences on the basis of balancing interests, towards an upgraded ATIGA agreement that is feasible, effective and sustainable for all parties.

The conference created a favorable foundation for the next rounds of negotiations, aiming to sign the Second Protocol upgrading the ATIGA Agreement on the occasion of the 47th ASEAN Summit scheduled to take place in November 2025 in Malaysia.

According to baotintuc.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/hoi-nghi-bo-truong-kinh-te-asean-dac-biet-ve-dam-phan-nang-cap-hiep-dinh-atiga-153430.html