Summary of the 5th Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement

October 2007

1. The 5th round of negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from October 2 (Tue) to 4 (Thu), 2007 in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
2. Participating in this round of the negotiations were: for the Japanese side, Mr. Jun Yokota, Representative of the Government of Japan for Japan-Viet Nam and Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreements Negotiations 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, former 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), general provisions, trades in services, intellectual property, competition, government procurement, cooperation, and improvement of business environment were brought up to further deepen the discussion, and progress was made in each area. In many areas the discussion was based on draft texts.
     • (ii) The 6th round of negotiations will be determined through diplomatic channels.
   • (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.
       • Views were exchanged in the areas of general rules and rules of origin based on draft texts. Both sides have come to share common views on the draft text of customs procedures.
     • (ii) Other Areas
       • Discussions were also made in other areas, based on the draft text.