Agro-fishery exports to China face challenges due to COVID-19
VOV.VN - Vietnamese agricultural and fishery exports to China have encountered numerous difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the customs clearance capacity of goods at border gates yet to be operating at full capacity, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
The MoIT stated that these challenges can largely be attributed to a decline in demand from the Chinese market following several economic fluctuations and the impact of the pandemic.
Furthermore, China has also intensified the enforcement of laws and border trade policies imposed on agricultural and fisheries imports at border areas through a range of measures, including origin traceability, packaging specifications, food hygiene, and safety.
Moreover, a number of traders have transported their farm produce on mass to the border despite being yet to sign official contracts with Chinese partners, leading to heavy congestion at border gates.
Last year witnessed export and import turnover passing through Lao Cai border gate reach US$3.2 billion, representing a decline of 15.2% compared to 2019 due to the impact of COVID-19 epidemic.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh stated the MoIT will enter discussions with the Chinese side in an effort to speed up the completion of legal procedures in order to open the market for Vietnamese farm produce and aquatic products.
Simultaneously, the MoIT will mobilise the Chinese side to consider opening additional border gates and railway transport routes to facilitate greater imports in the time ahead and better meet the needs of each side.
Most notably, the country will closely co-operate with the northern neighbour to disseminate information on how to take advantage of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement and how to make use of e-commerce to promote exports and focus on medium and long-term trade promotion schemes whilst strengthening trade exchange via online platforms.
