Summary of the 1st Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement

January 2007

1. The 1st round of negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from January 16 (Tue) to 18 (Thu), 2007 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo.
2. Participating in this round of the negotiations were: for the Japanese side, Mr. Jun Yokota, Ambassador for International Trade and Economic Affairs and the Chief Negotiator for Japan, and officials from relevant ministries and agencies of Japan; and, for the Viet Namese side, Mr. Phan The Rue, Vice Minister of Trade and the Chief Negotiator for Viet Nam, and officials from relevant ministries of Viet Nam.
3. A summary of the discussion is as follows:
   • (1) Overview
     • (i) Both sides decided to adopt the Terms of Reference for the EPA negotiations, and shared understandings on the method and scope of the negotiations. It was affirmed that the scope of the negotiations shall include trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade in services, intellectual property, competition, improvement of business environment, etc.
     • (ii) In the round, the overall negotiations were assessed in the plenary meeting at the chief-negotiator-level and such areas as trade in goods, general rules for trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade in services, intellectual property, competition, cooperation, and improvement of business environment were discussed, and views were exchanged based on the draft text.
     • (iii) The 2nd round of negotiations will be held in Hanoi, Viet Nam towards the end of March.
   • (2) Details
     • (i) Trade in Goods
       • Regarding the market access of trade in goods, the modalities of the negotiations were discussed, based on the modality paper presented by the Japanese side. The goods of interest and the domestic situation of the both sides were also discussed.
       • General rules for trade in goods, rules of origin and customs procedures were also discussed, based on the draft text.
     • (ii) Trade in services, intellectual property, competition, cooperation and improvement of business environment
       • Views were exchanged on the situation regarding each area as well as on the method of negotiation.