Summary of the 8th Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement

August 22, 2008

1. The 8th round of negotiations on the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was held from August 20 (Wed) to 22 (Fri), 2008 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, 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 issues as market access in trade in goods, other issues relating to trade in goods (general rules, rules of origin), general and final provisions, trade in services, movement of natural persons, intellectual property, technical barriers to trade (TBT), and cooperation were discussed. Substantial progress was made in all areas during this round.
   • (ii) 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.
   • (iii) Both sides decided to further speed up the negotiations with a view to achieving an agreement in principle as soon as possible.
4. The 9th round of negotiations will be determined through diplomatic channels.