Hanoi (VNA) – Experts and businesses gathered at a workshop held within the first Golden Autumn Fair in Hanoi on October 27, underscoring how origin certification has become the critical gateway for Vietnamese goods to reach out to international markets.
In his speech, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Foreign Trade Agency Nguyen Anh Son highlighted that the rules of origin are not only technical requirements but also the foundation of fair and transparent trade, helping consolidate partners’ confidence while improving Vietnamese goods’ competitive edge.
Understanding and complying with origin rules, Son said, allow Vietnamese enterprises to capitalise on tariff preferences from free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Tran Ngoc Binh, an official from the Foreign Trade Agency, described certificate of origin (C/O) as the passport of Vietnamese goods in global trade. A shipment with a valid C/O, he said, demonstrates transparent and verifiable production origins, qualifying it for preferential tariffs under the free trade pacts that Vietnam signed.
Binh explained that there are two types of certificates of origin (C/O), non-preferential C/O simply confirming where goods are made to prevent counterfeiting or illegal transshipment, and preferential C/O, issued under trade schemes such as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and FTAs.
Each percentage of tax reduction strengthens a firm’s competitiveness, Binh said, stating a C/O is a lifeline for Vietnamese goods to gain a foothold in the international supply chains.
Binh noted that the three new-generation FTAs of CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA extend beyond tariff reduction to include labour, environmental, governance, digital trade, and sustainability standards. These agreements allow a high proportion of tariffs to drop to zero, enabling Vietnamese products to enter high-standard markets.
According to the official, compliance with the rules of origin set within the pacts is vital for Vietnamese key exports such as garment and textile, leather shoes, agriculture – fishery, and food processing. Enterprises must also be aware of differences in certification systems, such as those applied in special territories like Hong Kong (China), to avoid procedural errors.
Binh said most Vietnamese farm products, such as rice, lychee, coffee, and pepper, are fully sourced within the country, while seafood exports must meet EU IUU fishing standards to qualify for C/O certification.
The rules of origin reflect the companies’ management capacity and transparency. As global trade moves toward digital transformation and green standards, businesses must change their mindset, invest in data systems and automated certification processes to meet international standards.
At the event, experts, enterprises, and industry associations exchanged views, shared practical experience, and contributed opinions to refine mechanisms and legal frameworks regarding goods origin.
The Golden Autumn Fair 2025 is a national-scale trade event and the largest of its kind to date, featuring over 100,000 square metres of exhibition space and 3,000 standard booths showcasing key sectors of the economy. It is a major platform for business networking and promotes the spirit of “Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods,” affirming the reputation of domestic products in both local and global markets./.
