More Vietnamese businesses may soon be allowed to export aquatic products to Russia this year after a Russian working group made a fact-finding tour of some Vietnamese exporters, said Trade Counsellor of Vietnam in Russia Duong Hoang Minh.

A tra fish
processing factory (Photo: VNA)
Minh said Vietnam’s trade office in Russia had earlier held a
working session with local agencies.
The move was made after Vietnam was given a "yellow card” warning by the
European Commission in September 2017 for failing to progress in fighting
illegal fishing, which could lead to a drop in aquatic exports to the EU and
other markets.
The counsellor said exports to Russia have encountered difficulties recently
since this country and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which it is a
member, limited aquatic product imports and only allowed 21 Vietnamese
companies to ship products to Russia.
However, there are more than 500 Vietnamese businesses eligible to export to
the EU and other demanding markets at present. Therefore, the trade office of
Vietnam has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to
persuade Russian agencies to lift barriers to Vietnamese aquatic products.
It also invited relevant agencies of Russia and the EAEU to make fact-finding
tours to Vietnam in an effort to have more companies be allowed ship aquatic
products to these markets, Minh added.
In 2017, Vietnam exported 2.2 billion USD worth of goods to Russia, up 35
percent year on year. Commodities with high export growth included vegetables,
fruits, cashew nuts, textiles-garments, wood products, machinery and spare
parts.
The counsellor said the Vietnamese trade office in Russia will now focus on
helping businesses boost shipments and capitalise on the Vietnam-EAEU Free
Trade Agreement.
It will also continue working to understand regulations and commitments in the
World Trade Organisation and free trade agreements, as well as possible trade
barriers.
Source: VNA
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