The minister said Vietnam could also become the most promising destination in Southeast Asia for European businesses.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the country may serve as an entry point for EU trade to ASEAN.
Once effective, the EVFTA will encourage investment from the EU into Vietnam and create opportunities for the two sides to access each other’s market, the ministry said.
The EU will eliminate about 85.6 percent of tax lines on Vietnam’s exports, with the rate increasing to 99 percent seven years later.
Meanwhile, Vietnam will liberalise 65 percent of import duties on EU exports. In another 10 years, about 99.8 percent of EU goods exported to Vietnam will enjoy a zero percent tax rate.
Statistics released by the MoIT show that the Vietnam-EU trade grew by 8.93 percent in 2016 compared with the previous year to reach 45.07 billion USD.
Bilateral trade expanded by 16.2 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2017.
Of the figure, Vietnam’s exports to the EU rose 4.2 percent, mostly apparel, footwear, agro-forestry-aquatic products and computers, while its imports from the EU rose 14 percent, including machinery, equipment, pharmaceuticals and dairy products.
The country’s major importers were Germany, the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
With a population of more than 500 million, the EU is an attractive market for Vietnamese products like garments, garments-textiles, seafood and coffee.
With the two sides’ commitment to opening up the market, two-way trade revenue is hoped to hit about 100 billion USD annually.
However, Vietnamese businesses are expected to face fierce competition, forcing them to improve their operations.
At the same time, the Vietnamese Government plans to fast-track institutional reform and complete the legal framework to catch up with the development pace and requirements of both domestic and global economies, the ministry said.
VNA
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
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