Upon addressing at the meeting, Pham Quang Huy, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission in Geneva, said Vietnam has formally sent a diplomatic note to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization and relevant WTO committees, proposing the launch of the negotiation process to join ITA2. The WTO has also sent this notification to all members.

The Vietnamese delegation said Vietnam appreciates the role of ITA2 in promoting trade liberalisation of information technology products, contributing to reducing costs, improving access to technology and promoting global innovation. In recent years, Vietnam has actively integrated and achieved significant progress in the information technology sector, becoming a regional hub for the production and export of electronics and high-tech products.

On that basis, Vietnam has sent a diplomatic note requesting the launch of the negotiation process to join ITA2. This step reflects Vietnam’s proactive approach and affirms its commitment to contribute responsibly to the WTO’s multilateral trading system.

Members, including the EU, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand and Switzerland, welcomed Vietnam’s decision, describing it as an important moment and a positive signal for the WTO at this time, and expressed readiness to support the country in the negotiation process.

Earlier, at a meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission in Geneva, conveyed Vietnam’s decision to join ITA2, saying the decision shows Vietnam’s continued deep international integration. The WTO Director-General described the decision as “truly wonderful” and said it would help expand space for Vietnam to attract high-quality investment and promote the digital industry.

Regarding next steps, Vietnam will submit its draft schedule of commitments under ITA2 and conduct negotiations with other ITA2 members. A decision to recognise Vietnam as an official ITA2 member will be adopted after all members agree on Vietnam’s commitments following negotiations.

Vietnam joined the 1996 Information Technology Agreement (ITA1) upon its accession to the WTO in 2007. ITA1 requires participants to eliminate tariffs on a wide range of information technology products, including computers, telecommunications equipment and semiconductors, on a most-favoured-nation basis. To date, ITA1 has 83 participants, counting EU member states individually. In 2015, more than 50 members signed the expansion of the ITA (ITA2), covering an additional 201 products.

According to the WTO Annual Report 2025, ITA1 members account for 97% of global trade in information technology products. The WTO Annual Report 2024 indicates that global exports of ITA1 products have increased more than fourfold since 1996, reaching US$2,500 billion in 2021, while ITA2 product exports totalled around US$2,100 billion, accounting for about 12% of global exports.

At previous WTO events related to the ITA, Vietnam has been cited as a typical example of successfully utilizing trade negotiations, including the ITA, to generate economic benefits.

At the meeting, Pham Quang Huy said Vietnam is ready to engage in ITA2 negotiations in a constructive, responsible and cooperative spirit, and expressed the wish to continue close exchanges with members in the time ahead.

Vietnam pushes consensus ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference

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