The signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) after years of negotiations took place on June 30. So far, the EU has signed and implemented FTA with two Southeast Asian nations - Singapore and Vietnam.
The negotiation of EVFTA started in December 2015. However, EU members only approved the deal in late June, after a meeting between ministers. European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom attended the signing ceremony for the EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on June 30.
She assessed the signing of EVFTA and EVIPA as a great achievement of the leaders and negotiating teams of the two sides. The European Parliament is likely to ratify the deal by the end of this year./.
