The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will require Vietnamese businesses to overcome their own barriers in order to fully participate in the trade deal and enjoy its benefits, Nguyen Dinh Cung, former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), has stated.

The country’s shrimp exports during April enjoyed an increase of 5.8% to US$244.2 million, boosting the total export turnover during the opening four months of the year by 2.9% on-year to US$872.8 million, whilst shrimp exports are expected to continue their growth into May, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has suggested agencies in Vietnam and Canada to devise a mechanism to exchange information and handle trade defence cases.

Despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, in the first four months of this year, wood exports still achieved US$3.2 billion, an increase of 6 percent over the same period last year.

As recession looms in South East Asia, artisan cakes and pastries are off the menu, and instant noodles and biscuits are in – with Australian grain exports into the region forecast to shift accordingly, an international grains market expert has told local industry.

Singapore's virus-hit economy could shrink by as much as seven percent this year - the worst reading since independence - the government said on Tuesday, as it unveiled a fresh multi-billion-dollar stimulus package.

Vietnamese firms need to diversify their overseas markets and improve their strengths to capitalise on opportunities after the Covid-19 pandemic ends, an online seminar heard in HCM City on Friday.

The United States said on Friday it would add 33 Chinese firms and institutions to an economic blacklist for helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population or because of ties to weapons of mass destruction and China’s military.

Vietnam can entrench itself in global supply chains if the U.S. forms a network of partners to reduce reliance on China, analysts said.

The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval on May 28.