International media outlets have highlighted Vietnam’s thriving economy which is among the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia in 2019 amid the global economic slowdown.

Its next chapter will be fought through export and import controls, investment restrictions, and sanctions—and the United States should prepare itself now.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the industry and trade sector to strive for an export turnover of 300 billion USD next year during a conference held in Hanoi on December 27.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been pursuing the finalization of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in what is set to be the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA).

The Government and the banking sector are paying more attention in enabling those involved in the agricultural sector to obtain loans from the bank, but the number of farmers and agricultural cooperatives to get access to bank loans remains modest, experts said at a seminar held in HCM City yesterday (Dec.27).

Việt Nam’s cashew exports in 2019 are expected to top US$3.6 billion, according to the Việt Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas).

Việt Nam’s wood exports this year are set to reach up to US$11.5 billion, exceeding the industry’s own target of $10.5 billion, a 20 per cent increase compared to last year, according to the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VTFPA)

The upgraded Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP) has been ratified by the two nations and will enter into force on Jan 1, 2020.

The U.S. and China are said to be close to signing a phase-one trade deal in early January a move that will see Washington reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, or at least temporarily calm fears of an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies.

The European Commission’s (EC) inspection delegation has acknowledged recent improvements made by Việt Nam in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).