Revising Import-Export Policies to Support Businesses
In the last two years, many import and export policies have been revised for flexible import and export administration, timely protection of business interests, and compliance with international commitments.
According to the Vietnam Export and Import Report, legal documents are mainly designed as: Documents detailing the implementation of Law on Foreign Trade Administration, and guiding documents on adjustments to law enforcement and import and export organization in line with practical international economic integration, management requirements, the spirit of administrative reform and business facilitation.
On border trade, Decree 14/2018/ND-CP dated January 23, 2018 and Circular 01/2018/TT-BCT dated February 27, 2018 guided the enforcement of the Law on Foreign Trade Administration concerning border trade. Decree 14 removes the regulation that provinces must request a permit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade before announcing time, import and export and revising regulations to encourage imports and exports and restrict imports; provides detailed guidance on the list of goods allowed for trading by traders and border residents, mechanism of tax and fee management, and specialized management, coordinated mechanism in State administration at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related ministries and agencies with local authorities. The clear definition of regulations and consistent management of border trade activities creates favorable conditions for boosting commodity import and export, entry and exit of people and transport means across land border gates, and tourism development. This also helps restrict smuggling.
In import and export management, Decree 69/2018/ND-CP guides measures to ban import and export and halt export, measures to restrict import and export (quotas, tariffs, appointing importers and exporters), and management measures based on licenses and conditions.
On customs supervision and management reform, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular 39 amending and regulating customs procedures, customs inspection and supervision, export tax and import tax. The circular has many new contents built on the study of application of trade facilitation measures, changes of international trade practices and requirements, and customs management requirements such as electronic document submission, additional declarations and declaration cancellation. The above amendments are intended to be transparent, time-saving and cost-effective for both businesses and state administrative agencies.
In addition, central authorities continue to review, remove and simplify specialized management conditions in accordance with the spirit of Directive 20/CT-TTg dated July 13, 2018 on strengthening specialized inspection reforms, reducing and simplifying business conditions, and Directive 25/CT-TTg dated August 31, 2018 on tasks and solutions to production development and export promotion.
On integration, Law on Foreign Trade Administration and governmental decrees on State management of foreign trade will continue to be implemented. The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued many regulations and policies on export and import management and certification of origin of goods to ensure that State management agencies have adequate flexible operating tools developed in the spirit of administrative procedure reform.
Regarding the certification of origin of goods under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) of the European Union (EU), Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, according to Circular 38/2018/TT-BCT, the certification of origin of goods under the GSP of the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey (Registered Exporter System - REX) was applied from January 1, 2019, for traders to declare and guarantee the origin of goods exported to the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
On November 11, 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular 44/2018/TT-BCT on suspension of temporary import of round sawn timber sourced from natural forests in Laos and Cambodia for re-export. This rule halts temporary import of sawn timber from natural forests in Laos and Cambodia for re-export to third countries, coded HS 44.03 and 44.07 in the List of exported and imported goods of Vietnam. The suspension of temporary import for re-export is effective from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023.
New import and export policies ensure flexible import and export administration, timely protection of business interests, and compliance with international commitments.
Huong Ly
Vietnamese
