Australia boosts Vietnam’s negotiating capacity ahead of talks on Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP)

An Australian Government-hosted Trade Negotiation Capacity Building Workshop for Vietnamese officials opened in Hanoi on 24 November 2010. The workshop, which runs until 25 November, is designed to assist Vietnam’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) negotiations.

The Trade Negotiation workshop will provide concrete and practical technical assistance to ministries that will be involved in the TPP negotiations and in its implementation. Seminars will focus on topics relevant to modern, ambitious free trade agreements such as investment, government procurement, intellectual property, and labour and environment issues. The workshop will assist Vietnam to take full advantage of the trade and investment opportunities presented by the TPP Agreement negotiations.

TPP Parties aim to develop a high quality, comprehensive 21st century free trade agreement that deepens regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia welcomed Vietnam’s recent announcement in the margins of the APEC Leaders meeting in Yokohama confirming it would participate in the TPP negotiations as a full member.

Current TPP Parties are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, New Zealand, the United States and Vietnam. TPP Parties are committed to expanding membership over time to other countries in the region that can commit to the TPP’s high standard objectives. The TPP is one possible pathway towards the APEC goal of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

The Government of New Zealand will also contribute to the workshop and hold a seminar on competition policy.

The workshop will be funded by Australia’s Agency for International Development (AusAID) and coordinated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Media contact: Mr Tran Tuan Anh, Tel: +84 912 528 957, e-mail: [email protected]