An international seminar on “How to Do More Business with the US for Vietnamese Corporations and Exporters; The way for Vietnam’s products to penetrate US market without facing law suits and trade restrictions” has recently been held in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
The seminar, presided by Professor Susan Schwab, former US trade representative, was jointly held by the Link World Unlimited International Event Group and the College of Economics - Vietnam National University of Hanoi.
Product quality is the top conditionAccording to Ms Susan, Vietnam has a young workforce and has advantageous products like apparel and footwear. To ensure the sustainable development of these products in the US market, the governments must have management measures, especially for Vietnamese exporters.
“The US government will put forth details on national trade issues as well as national trade forecasts of countries with commercial exchanges with the US. Besides, the US annually sends warnings and notices on major activities or barriers the world is encountering. After joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Vietnam has to fulfil its commitments to this organisation. This is seen as the necessary condition for Vietnamese exports, not only in the US market but also other markets in the world,” Ms Susan stressed.
Ms Susan recommended Vietnamese exporters to ensure food safety and hygiene, especially agricultural products and seafood. If Vietnam executes strict examinations and ensures the international quality of its products, the penetration and expansion of export markers will not face many difficulties.
Besides, according to Ms Susan, to realise its ambition of an export-oriented nation, Vietnam needs to solve labour issues, especially incomes and working conditions, which are seen important factors to create the stability of exported goods.
Enhancing intellectual property protectionAccording to Ms Susan, Vietnam has been on the intellectual property watch list since 2002. Production of counterfeited, imitated and low-quality goods is rampant in Vietnam. “With the wider use of internet, the Vietnamese government needs to adopt stronger measures to protect the intellectual property rights,” said Ms Susan.
“Vietnam needs to be delisted from the watch list because everybody thinks this matter is extremely important as it relates to product quality. Therefore, Vietnamese authorities need to bring the Law on Intellectual Property into life,” Ms Susan advised.
Besides, according to Susan, to a certain extent, Vietnam is trying to eradicate trade protectionism. To help Vietnamese enterprises avoid vulnerability at access to the US market, Vietnam needs to apply dumping laws and Vietnamese enterprises must prove that their products at the home market are not sold at higher prices than in the US.
Luong Tuan
Vietnamese
