EU Vietnam Trade Barriers Task Force
- HANOI - October 1, 2025 - Trade between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) continues to grow, prompting the establishment of a joint task force to further enhance...
- The decision to create a special task force was made during the fourth meeting of the EVFTA Committee, held in Hanoi. The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister...
- Vietnam's total trade with the EU demonstrates notable growth.
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Vietnam-EU Trade Surges, Task Force Established to Address Barriers
Table of Contents
HANOI – October 1, 2025 – Trade between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) continues to grow, prompting the establishment of a joint task force to further enhance economic ties and resolve existing trade challenges.
Key developments
The decision to create a special task force was made during the fourth meeting of the EVFTA Committee, held in Hanoi. The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic. The committee reviewed the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and explored strategies to maximize its benefits.
Trade Figures: A Growing Partnership
Vietnam’s total trade with the EU demonstrates notable growth. In the first eight months of 2025, bilateral trade reached $48.4 billion, a 7.7% increase year-on-year. This growth is driven by strong export performance from Vietnam.
| Period | Total trade (USD Billion) | Vietnam Exports to EU (USD Billion) | Vietnam Imports from EU (USD Billion) | Year-on-Year Growth (total Trade) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 8 Months of 2025 | 48.4 | 36.9 | 11.3 | 7.7% |
| Full Year 2024 (implied) | ~51.72 + ~16.73 = 68.45 | 51.72 | 16.73 | 18.5% (Exports) / ~12% (Imports) |
Specifically, Vietnam’s exports to the EU totaled $51.72 billion in 2024,representing an 18.5% increase.Imports from the EU reached $16.73 billion, up nearly 12% during the same period. The first eight months of 2025 saw exports at $36.9 billion (an 8.4% increase) and imports at $11.3 billion (a 5.4% increase).
EVFTA Implementation and Remaining Challenges
The EVFTA, which came into force in August 2020, aims to eliminate over 99% of tariffs between Vietnam and the EU. The European Commission provides detailed information on the EVFTA. While the agreement has spurred trade growth, both sides acknowledge the need to address remaining barriers to fully realize its potential.
These barriers include non-tariff measures, such as sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, technical barriers to trade, and customs procedures. The newly formed task force will focus on identifying and resolving these issues to create a more streamlined and predictable trade surroundings.