If there are no certifications, acceptance that markets with green standards or customers with green standards require, in 5 years Vietnam in general and many enterprises, in particular, may not be able to export goods.

After days of unrest in some of China’s biggest cities, the Chinese government has announced it is relaxing COVID-19 protocols. This may be the first sign that China is returning to business as usual and reopening its economy. This could have both good and bad outcomes for Vietnam.

The Hong Kong government expects to begin discussions next year to join RCEP. RCEP should have the effect of lowering tariffs, expanding services trade, harmonising rules of origin and, for Hong Kong, establishing its role as a vital gateway into the fifteen cities of the Greater Bay Area.

The US Commerce Department on Thursday blacklisted 36 Chinese companies including top producers of advanced computer chips, severely restricting their access to American technology.

The European Union and Malaysia signed the EU-Malaysia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Brussels.

The Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada is likely to be clinched in the second half of 2023, with the potential for the formal signing coming as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits India in September for the G20 leaders’ summit.

The ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the lift of the yellow card on Vietnam’s seafood exports are on the agenda in these meetings.

General Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) and Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) signed a customs administrative cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Finance Ministry and OLAF in Brussels on December 14.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on businesses and groups from Belgium’s Wallonia region to expand their operations in Vietnam in new areas as well as introduce other firms to the country.

European Union leaders on Thursday sought ways to stand up to the United States over its new green technologies plan that they say unfairly discriminates against Washington's best global ally when both should be standing shoulder to shoulder in their rivalry with Russia and China.