Summary of the 3rd Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement

June 2007

1. The 3rd round of negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from June 4 (Mon) to 7 (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) In the round, the overall negotiations were assessed in the plenary meeting at the chief-negotiator-level and such areas as trade in goods (market access, general rules, rules of origin, customs procedures), trade in services, intellectual property, competition, cooperation, and improvement of business environment were brought up to further deepen the discussion.
     • (ii) The 4th round of negotiations will be held in mid July at the earliest.
   • (2) Details
     • (i) Trade in Goods
       • With respect to market access of trade in goods, both sides discussed their goods of interest with regards to both industrial goods and agricultural, fishery and forestry goods, as well as internal circumstances.
       • Discussions were made in the area of general rules, based on the draft text.
     • (ii) Other Areas
       • Discussions were also made in other areas, based on the draft text.