USAID Trade Facilitation Program in Vietnam

Nathan is implementing the USAID Trade Facilitation Program, a five-year (2018-2023), $21.7 million project that aims to support the adoption and implementation of a risk-based approach to customs and technical (specialized) inspection institutions in Vietnam.

Attaining this objective will facilitate the implementation of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. The primary Government of Vietnam counterpart for the Trade Facilitation Program is the General Department of Vietnam Customs, which also acts as the focal point of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) for Vietnam. Within this context, the Program will support national and provincial stakeholders in promoting the benefits to be gained by the application of a risk management approach to specialized inspections mandated by line ministries to protect food safety, public health, and the environment.

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program activities are organized into four (4) key components:

➡ Component 1: Harmonization and simplification of key risk management and specialized inspections-related policies at the central level and strengthening the role of the NTFC.

➡ Component 2: Strengthening National-Provincial (Vertical) coordination of trade facilitation strategies and facilitating import and export of goods.

➡ Component 3: Strengthening the provincial level implementation and inter-provincial coordination in at least five targeted provinces.

➡ Component 4: Enhancing the partnership between customs and the private sector.

In addition to providing targeted assistance at the central level, the Program aims to secure provincial buy-in by localizing technical assistance and operations in six provinces identified and selected in close cooperation with the GDVC.

In implementing its activities, the Program will look specifically to engage the private sector, the ultimate beneficiaries of TF, as advocates to help champion TF reforms. Achieving the Program’s objectives will help improve the trade and investment environment for Vietnamese and US companies, and help Vietnamese small and medium enterprises further integrate into global value chains.

About USAID Trade Facilitation Program in Vietnam

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is supporting the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to develop a more attractive business environment for enterprises, traders, and investors. These efforts include simplifying customs procedures and easing congestion at Vietnam’s ports, such as at Cat Lai, the country’s busiest container port. This has become increasingly important as trade rebounds in the post-COVID-19 environment and will strengthen implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of which both Vietnam and the United States are members.

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