Establishment of Viet Nam Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under Chapter 13 of Viet Nam - UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA)
On 22nd March 2022, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien signed and promulgated Decision No. 401/QD-BCT establishing and stipulating the organization and operation mechanism of Viet Nam Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under Chapter 13 of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UKVFTA).
According to Decision No. 401/QD-BCT dated 22nd March 2022 of the Minister of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam DAG is established in compliance with Article 13.15 of the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the UKVFTA. Members of Viet Nam DAG in the FTA between Viet Nam and the European Union (EVFTA) as specified in the Appendix to Decision No. 1972/QD-BCT dated 17th August 2021 and documents amending and supplementing Decision No. 1972/QD-BCT also serve as members of Viet Nam DAG in the UKVFTA.
The Viet Nam DAG in the UKVFTA also applies the provisions of Decision No. 1972/QD-BCT to its tasks and functions, rights and obligations, organizational structure and working mechanism.
The Multilateral Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade temporarily performs the function of Viet Nam DAG Secretariat in the UKVFTA until the Secretariat is officially established.
The Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the UK (referred to as UKVFTA) was signed in London, UK on 29th December 2020. The UKVFTA is temporarily applied from 1st January 2021 and officially takes effect from 1st May 2021. UKVFTA is negotiated on the basis of inheriting the commitments in the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union (EVFTA) with some adjustments to reflect bilateral trade relations between Viet Nam and the UK.
Commitments of Chapter 13 (TSD Chapter) in the UKVFTA basically inherit those of Chapter 13 in the EVFTA. Accordingly, each Party shall establish a new domestic advisory group or groups (DAG) or consult with an existing national advisory group on sustainable development with a mandate to advise on the implementation of the TSD Chapter. This national advisory group or groups consists of independent representative organizations, ensuring balanced representation across economic, social and environmental sectors, including workers' and employers' organizations, businesses, as well as environmental organizations.
Viet Nam has established the Viet Nam DAG in accordance with Chapter 13 of the EVFTA with six following member organizations as of March 2022: (1) The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Bureau for Employers’ Activities); (2) Center for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD); (3) Institute of Workers and Trade Union (under the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labor); (4) Viet Nam Education Center for Nature (ENV); (5) Viet Nam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS); and (6) Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
