The Rules of Origin Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently held a meeting, with Vietnam represented by the Department of Import and Export under the Ministry of Industry and Trade participating online from Hanoi and officials of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to Geneva attending in person.

At the event, Trinh Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade delivered a statement on Vietnam’s completion of its notification on rules of origin within the WTO framework.

Vietnam submitted its Notification on Rules of Origin (document G/RO/N/291) in March 2025, applying the new template proposed by the Chair of the WTO Rules of Origin Committee. The Department of Import and Export worked closely with Vietnam’s Mission in Geneva to complete the notification procedures, coordinated with the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance to finalise the notification, and carefully reviewed relevant legal documents to ensure all updated regulations were accurately reflected.

With a relatively comprehensive legal framework, Vietnam successfully applied the new template. As one of the first WTO members to complete a high‑quality notification, Vietnam encourages other members to follow suit to build a complete and consistent database under the WTO framework.

Hien emphasised that this notification serves as an important tool to enhance transparency, provide a reliable reference in case of international disputes on goods’ origin, prevent origin fraud, and promote global trade.

Vietnam has signed numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) and become one of the economies with deep integration. Accordingly, the nation proposed that the notification scope include both preferential rules of origin under FTAs and non‑preferential rules of origin under the WTO framework to prevent origin fraud and boost international cooperation.

Earlier, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Rules of Origin Committee in Geneva, the Vietnamese delegation delivered a statement on the application of rules of origin for goods exported from Vietnam to WTO members. The session demonstrated Vietnam’s important contributions to reinforcing its standing and diplomatic relations within the WTO.

Vietnam’s proactive engagement has been positively acknowledged by WTO members, recognizing the nation’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the WTO framework and promoting fair and effective trade. The Department of Import and Export affirmed its readiness to cooperate with partners in tackling challenges related to the implementation of rules of origin, while continuing to improve state management quality in this field.

Thu Hien’s statement at the session not only helped promote Vietnam’s image as an active and responsible WTO member but also reaffirmed its determination to advance a transparent, sustainable global trading system and improve the effectiveness of preventing origin fraud. This contribution indicates Vietnam’s effort to intensify participation and voice in multilateral organisations and mechanisms, enhancing the country’s role, position, and international prestige in line with the objectives set out in the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 59 dated January 24, 2025, on international integration in the new context.

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