Trade impacts of the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement: The Sussex Framework Analysis

SECO Working Paper 3/2017 by Le Thu Ha

ABSTRACT: In February 2016, after more than three years of negotiation, the European Union and Vietnam officially announced the conclusion of negotiation and published the text of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). This research focuses on the impacts of EVFTA on both economies. By using the Sussex Framework, the EVFTA is expected to have positive impacts on both economies, also exposing many opportunities and challenges to Vietnam as a developing country when trading with an economy giant of the EU. Based on the results of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the research proposed some recommendations for Vietnamese government and enterprises to enhance the benefits of the FTA.