On August 6, 2024, the Foreign Trade University successfully organized the workshop “Proactively Applying and Responding to Trade Remedies in International Trade”.
Ambassador Mai Phan Dũng – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the S.R. of Viet Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; Mr. Nghiêm Xuân Đa – Chairman of the Vietnam Steel Association and General Director of the Vietnam Steel Corporation; Mr. Đinh Quốc Thái – General Secretary of the Vietnam Steel Association; Mr. Tô Thái Ninh – Head of the Anti-Dumping and Subsidy Investigation Department, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam; Ms. Nguyễn Yến Ngọc – Head of the Foreign Trade Defense Handling Department, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Hà – Deputy Head of the Trade Facilitation Department, Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Mr. Lê Sỹ Giảng – Executive Director of GH Consults (GHC); along with representatives of state management agencies, businesses interested attended the workshop.
From Foreign Trade University, there were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Thị Thu Thủy – Chairwoman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Thị Thu Hương – Director of the WTO Chair Program at Foreign Trade University; Dr. Vũ Kim Ngân – Deputy Director of the WTO Chair Program at Foreign Trade University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Hà – Director of the Institute for Innovation Research, Foreign Trade University; Dr. Hoàng Ngọc Thuận – Deputy Director of the WCP-FTU Project Management Board, Foreign Trade University and Heads, Deputy Heads of departments within the University, along with lecturers and students.
In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Thị Thu Thủy emphasized the importance of Vietnam’s participation in signing free trade agreements. She stated that understanding the content of trade remedies (TRs) is extremely important for Vietnamese production and export enterprises to proactively apply and promptly respond to trade defense cases, in order to reasonably protect domestic producers. As one of the leading universities in Vietnam in the field of international trade, within the framework of the WTO Chair program, Foreign Trade University has been actively participating in policy discussion and consultation activities, bridging the gap between academic issues and practical applications, and connecting experts, managers, and the business community regarding this topical issue.
Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Thu Thuy delivered the opening speech
Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Mai Phan Dũng – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the S.R. of Viet Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, also highlighted the prominent issues of international trade, emphasizing the complexity of global trade remedy trends requiring countries to develop responsive measures. The Ambassador also welcomed the efforts of the WTO Chair Program at Foreign Trade University in organizing the workshop, contributing significantly to raising awareness and understanding of global trade issues, and promoting cooperation among scholars, experts, and policymakers.
Opening speech by Ambassador Mai Phan Dzung
FTU presented a souvenir to the Representative of the Vietnam Steel Association – co-organizer of the Workshop.
WCP – FTU presented souvenirs to the speakers of the Workshop
The workshop was organized with two main activities, including the Presentation Session and the Roundtable Discussion. The Presentation Session featured three presentations related to the practical investigation and application of TRs as well as the experience of using trade defense tools by Vietnamese enterprises, followed by exchanges between speakers and representatives of the involved parties with the audience.
From the perspective of a state management agency, the first presentation by Mr. Tô Thái Ninh – Head of the Anti-Dumping and Subsidy Investigation Department, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, pointed out the impact of TRs on imported goods into Vietnam and provided evaluations on the successes and limitations of domestic production enterprises and trade defense investigation agencies.
Mr. To Thai Ninh and his presentation on the practice of investigating and applying TRs measures in Vietnam
The second presentation by Mr. Đinh Quốc Thái – General Secretary of the Vietnam Steel Association, discussed the experiences of using trade remedies tools by Vietnamese steel enterprises. The presentation detailed real cases involving the steel industry that were initiated for investigation both domestically and internationally. Through the outcomes of these cases, the presentation drew lessons for the steel industry in particular and other manufacturing industries in general in using trade remedies tools.
Mr. Dinh Quoc Thai and his presentation on trade defense work in the steel industry
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Hà – Director of the Institute for Innovation Research, Foreign Trade University, discussed the reality of responding to TRs barriers in the context of increased trade protection for Vietnamese export goods. It can be seen that, alongside the achievements, domestic enterprises still have limitations in coordinating and sharing information with competent authorities both domestically and internationally. Additionally, the awareness and resources of enterprises, especially in some newly investigated sectors, regarding TRs are still limited, leading to non-compliance with deadlines set by foreign investigative agencies.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Ha was presenting on the current situation of responding to PVTM barriers
The Roundtable Discussion featured additional participation from speakers: Ms. Nguyễn Yến Ngọc – Head of the Foreign Trade Defense Handling Department, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Hà – Deputy Head of the Trade Facilitation Department, Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Mr. Lê Sỹ Giảng – Executive Director of GH Consults (GHC); Dr. Hoàng Ngọc Thuận – Deputy Director of the WCP-FTU Programme Management Board, Foreign Trade University, who delved into the reality of defending (abroad) and initiating cases (in Vietnam), experiences, difficulties, and challenges of enterprises and associations, thereby proposing solutions to proactively apply TRs.
The roundtable discussion
Concluding the Discussion Session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Thị Thu Hương delivered the closing remarks and extended heartfelt thanks to representatives of state agencies, domestic and international organizations, the business community, and the Organizing Committee for their important contributions to the success of the workshop “Proactively Applying and Responding to Trade Remedies in International Trade”.
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