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Summary of the 2nd Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement

March 2007

  1. The 2nd round of negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from March 27 (Tue) to 30 (Fri), 2007 in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
  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) In the round, the overall negotiations were assessed in the plenary meeting at the chief-negotiator-level and such area 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 presented by the Japanese side in advance.
      • (ii) The 3rd round of negotiations will be held in Tokyo in either May or June.
    • (2) Details
      • (i) Trade in Goods
        • The negotiations on trade in goods was initiated based on the "request" and "offer" for tariff elimination and reduction of the both sides, which was exchanged in advance to this round of negotiation. Views and information were exchanged on the circumstances of both sides, and it deepened mutual understanding.
        • Discussions were conducted in the areas of rules of origin and customs procedures, based on the draft text presented prior to the 1st round of negotiations.
      • (ii) Trade in Services
        • Both sides exchanged their views regarding trade in services, and they deepened mutual understanding.
      • (iii) Intellectual Property
        • The Japanese side heard the Viet Namese side's comments on the draft text presented at the 1st round of negotiations, and discussed it in further detail. Both sides also exchanged information on respective legal systems and their operations.
      • (iv) Competition
        • The Japanese side heard the Viet Namese side's comments on the draft text at the 1st round of negotiations, and discussed it in further detail. Both sides also exchanged information on respective legal systems and their operations.
      • (v) Cooperation
        • The Japanese side heard the Viet Namese side's comments on the draft text presented at the 1st round of negotiations, and discussed the requests from the Viet Namese side regarding cooperation Viet Nam.
      • (vi) Improvement of Business Environment
        • The Japanese side heard the Viet Namese side's comments on the draft text presented at the 1st round of negotiations, and exchanged views on the framework of this area.
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