The Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Asia (ASEAN) in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Trade and the Australian Government launched ASEAN TARIFF FINDER on 19th August 2023 of the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM). ASEAN TARIFF FINDER is an online portal that provides information in English on customs tariffs and taxes, origin regulations and import regulations of more than 160 countries. ASEAN TARIFF FINDER also provides detailed information on Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff, import quotas and preferential taxes for all types of goods originating from ASEAN member countries, as well as additional taxes on import. In addition,...
OPENING OF VIETNAM - CHINA RAILWAY TRANSPORT ROUTE
Vietnam - China railway transport route from Shijiazhuang City in China to Yen Vien Station in Hanoi, Vietnam is opened on 2rd August 2023. This train departs from Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China to Yen Vien Station with a journey of 2,700 km, taking over 4 days. The train has 23 carriages. This is the first train of the freight route between the two countries, organized jointly by the railway department of Vietnam and China. This train runs straight, helping businesses shorten the transportation time compared to the time of transporting goods at the border as before and more convenient in carrying...
VIETNAM AND ISRAEL SIGNED THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (VIFTA)
On 25th July 2023, Vietnam and Israel signed the Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). This is the first FTA between a Southeast Asian country and Israel and the 16th FTA between Vietnam and global partners. The signing of the FTA between Vietnam and Israel marks the result of the tireless efforts of two countries after a period of 7 years with 12 negotiation sessions. And It is more meaningful in the context that the two countries are carrying out many essential activities on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu...
OPEN SONG THAN - DONG DANG REEFER CONTAINER TRAIN
On 14th July, 2023, the Vietnam Railways Corporation held the opening ceremony of a reefer container train from Song Than station, Binh Duong province to Dong Dang station, Lang Son province, after which the goods were transferred to inland China. The train has a transport volume of about 900 tons with 21 Mc wagons carrying 40 feer reefer containers, a maximum length of 325 m, a maximum transit time of 72 hours (expected to shorten the transportation time after completing the repair and upgrade package of railway infrastructure). Reefer container trains have a closed refrigeration structure, so goods do not need to...
RESTORE OPERATIONS AT MUONG KHUONG BORDER GATE, LAO CAI
Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee has just decided to restore operations at Muong Khuong border gate in Muong Khuong district. It is expected that from 27th July, 2023, activities will be restored at the Muong Khuong border gate (Lao Cai, Vietnam) - Kieu Dau (China) to restore import-export activities through this border gate. In the coming time, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee will assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the forces involved in the management of Muong Khuong border gate to organize the restoration of import and export activities through this border gate. At the same time, the Management Board...
THE UK OFFICIALLY SIGNED THE PROTOCOL TO JOIN CPTPP
On 16th July, 2023, the British Government announced that it had officially signed the protocol to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after nearly two years of negotiations. CPTPP has 11 members including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The UK Business and Trade Minister signed the document in New Zealand in the presence of 11 CPTPP member countries, making the UK the first new member and the first European country to join the CPTPP since it was established in 2018. The agreement is a big boost for British businesses, opening...