MEP Kelly welcomes EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement

Seán Kelly MEP (Ireland South) has welcomed the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this week.

“Vietnam represents a huge opportunity for Irish exports, especially dairy and livestock products, medical and pharmaceutical goods,” he said in Brussels.

“It is very good news that the agreement has been reached and that nearly all tariffs on goods between the two economies, the EU and Vietnam, will be eliminated.”
MEP Kelly, the only Irish member on the European Parliament’s International Trade committee, has supported ongoing negotiations to achieve an agreement and met with a number of Vietnamese officials over the past few months.

“While it is a major economic opportunity, we must ensure that the FTA is beneficial for both sides. With the growing economy and trade liberalisation, Vietnam and other Asian countries are in the process of negotiating and concluding a number of trade deals. Europe needs to work hard to establish strong economic presence in the East and the agreement with Vietnam is a step closer to this goal,” Mr Kelly continued.

MEP Kelly, the only Irish member on the European Parliament’s International Trade committee, has supported ongoing negotiations to achieve an agreement and met with a number of Vietnamese officials over the past few months.

The deal, which was negotiated over a two and a half year period, will be officially ratified in a year’s time.