Vietnam: Minister of Industry and Trade highlighted the need to limit trade barriers, including tariff and non-tariff restrictions, to restore the economies of ASEAN members amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Minister of Industry and Trade highlighted the need to limit trade barriers, including tariff and non-tariff restrictions, to restore the economies of ASEAN members amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

MEASURES

• Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh chaired an online meeting between economic ministers in Southeast Asia and China, Japan and South Korea.

• The Ha Noi Action Plan was adopted where it is based on the joint statement of ASEAN Economic Ministers in March 2020. Ministers agreed to the following commitments:

  – Ensure food security
  – Enhance resilience and sustainability of regional supply chain

• The ministers also discussed on other measures, including ways to ensure the smooth flow and transport of essential goods such as food items and medical products between ASEAN and partner countries, ways to promote customs cooperation to facilitate the clearance of goods at country borders.