Unclear about rules
Up to date, most enterprises have just got their hands on general information about WTO rules. As far as they know, after joining the WTO Vietnam will have to cut and abolish non-tariff barriers such as import-export quotas, licenses and subsidies, open up the market and create an equal business environment for all investors through the most-favoured nation status and national treatment status. In addition, all commodities must meet international food safety and hygiene requirements as well as environmental standards.

However, Vietnamese businesses lack specific information about the existing regulations of those international institutions. Although Vietnam completed its negotiation process, specific information about the country’s commitments to the WTO which are directly related to enterprises has not yet been publicised. 

According to experts, the above-mentioned situation stems from both enterprises and relevant State agencies. Most enterprises do not have the habit of seeking information to keep themselves up to date with policies and legal documents which are directly related to their operations. Many of them even remain too indifferent to the impact to be brought back by the WTO that they do not give a fig about international rules and practices.

Meanwhile, State management agencies are slow in providing full information and effective training for businesses before Vietnam joins the WTO. In fact, Vietnam could have learnt experience from China which had engaged in these activities for four to five years before it joined the global trade club.

Regarding the public announcement of WTO commitments, Government officials said that under WTO rules, the commitments will be made public only after all concerned parties agree to documents. Currently, documents on the commitments are being forwarded to Vietnam’s WTO partners for consideration and supplements. Any sign of making public the commitments at the moment will go against WTO rules.

Passive in competitions
When enterprises are unclear about rules to follow, they will be passive and, as a result, they will lose out in international competitions. This could be seen in recent international trade disputes, including those on trademarks, anti-dumping and economic contracts between Vietnamese enterprises and their overseas partners and normally Vietnamese enterprises face losses in these disputes. 

In addition, bilateral and multilateral WTO commitments directly affect enterprises’ production and business activities, particularly enterprises involved in export activities. The sooner they know these commitments in detail, the more active they are in preparing their production and business operations. On the contrary, their plans are likely to be on hold.

Seeking solutions
There is no denying that enterprises must grasp international rules to actively cope with challenges in the new race. However, enterprises cannot find solutions to this problem themselves without any assistance from the State. Accordingly, the Government should consider establishing WTO information centres, building business training and support programmes and publicising the contents of bilateral and multilateral WTO commitments as soon as possible. It is important to disseminate information about different subjects in different forms while analysing advantages and disadvantages in the particular fields of operation.

For their part, enterprises should study regulations of domestic and international laws and WTO commitments so as to draw up proper strategies and avoid risks in business operations.