Hanoi (VNA) – Opportunities created by free trade agreements(FTAs) for Vietnamese farm produce to access big markets in the world wereexplored at the 4th national farmers’ forum in Hanoi on October 11.

Vietnam joined two new-generation FTAs in 2018 and 2019, which were theComprehensive and Progress Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) andthe EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The two deals are expected to open up great opportunities for Vietnamesefarm produce in 37 markets with a combined population of over 1 billion.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai emphasized theprospect of cooperation with new partners through the CPTPP such as Canada,Chile, Mexico and Peru, thanks to the application of 0 percent tariffs for mostkey farm exports of Vietnam immediately after the pact took effect or afterjust three to five years.

The EVFTA also gradually reduce import tariffs on Vietnam’s farm exportsto 0 percent over a short course, with 99.7 percent of Vietnam’s agriculturalexports eligible for the 0-percent tariff after seven years.

The tariff cut is particularly significant because the EU has been oneof the top two export markets of Vietnam for consecutive years with bilateraltrade reaching nearly 56 billion USD in 2018, Deputy Minister Hai said.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh noted thatdespite many policies to support farmers in production and marketing, thecountry’s farm products have low added value due to obstacles such as foodsafety and hygiene.

He expressed the hope that the forum will find solutions to problemsfacing domestic farm produce export.  

Dinh also voiced his concern that besides opportunities, the FTAs alsobring formidable challenges to Vietnam’s agricultural sector.  

Sharing his view, participants discussed obstacles that Vietnam’s agriculturalexports face in CPTPP and EVFTA markets. They said technical barriers in foodsafety and quarantine, managerial level and technological content arepreventing Vietnam’s farm products to enter strict markets.

Vietnam exported 30.02 billion USD worth of agro-forestry-fisheryproducts in the first nine months of 2019, a year-on-year rise of 2.7 percent.

Products with export turnover of more than 2 billion USD include wood and timberproducts, coffee, rice,cashew nut, vegetables and fruit, and shrimp./.