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TPP Insight: Understanding Tariff Reductions in Vietnam

The Following is an excerpt from Vietnam Briefing’s November edition, entitled “Navigating the Vietnam Supply Chain“, which provides valuable insight into the emergence of Vietnam as a destination for China plus on manufacturing. For more information find the whole article here on the Asia Briefing bookstore

Recently signed and pending implementation by individual member states, the TPP is one of the most anticipated trade developments in recent years. For Vietnam’s exporters, the agreement is a watershed moment which will see over 18,000 total tariff reductions extending to key industries such as garments, machinery, and electronics.

Understanding TPP’s Tariff Reductions 

To leverage TPP tariff reductions, it is important to consider the various methods by which individual tariffs are reduced in member states party to the agreement. It should be immediately noted that, unlike some multilateral trade agreements, tariff reductions have been negotiated in a bilateral manner within the TPP package – resulting in specific and individual commitments by each state to every other state within the TPP. For example, the reduction of a Canadian tariff against a good from Australia does not guarantee Canadian reductions for Vietnamese Producers of similar goods.

While individual commitments may vary, the rage of options available to most countries are constrained and enjoy a level of uniformity throughout TPP.  To illustrate this, the remaining paragraphs will explore the Tariff Reduction Schedule that the US has agreed to with regards to Vietnam.

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US Reduction Schedules Under TPP

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All US tariffs will be reduced on Vietnamese exports under one of the following reduction methods: 

  • EIF: Effective immediately from the date of implementation.
  • B3-B20: Brought to zero in the number of yearly installments specified. B5, highlighted above, brings existing tariffs levied on HS 61102010 to zero over the course of five yearly reductions.
  • US1-US25: Results in an initial tariff reduction (ranging from the base rate to upwards of 55 percent) followed by further reduction over a specified time period. US6 reduces tariffs on 61103030B by an initial 35 percent of the US MFN base rate upon entry into force of TPP followed by a complete removal of tariffs effective January 1 of year 11 of the TPP’s existence.

Each good within the TPP is subject to its own reduction schedule, allowing producers to locate their exports down to HS-8 digit specification. The rate at which a good will be dutied is dependent on a combination of preexisting duties levied prior to TPP, and the commitments that importing governments has made as part of the TPP.

VB_2015_Navigating_the_Vietnam_Supply_Chain_ImageNavigating the Vietnam Supply Chain 

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing Magazine, we discuss the advantages of the Vietnamese market over its regional competition and highlight where and how to implement successful investment projects. We examine tariff reduction schedules within the ACFTA and TPP, highlight considerations with regard to rules of origin, and outline the benefits of investing in Vietnam’s growing economic zones. Finally, we provide expert insight into the issues surrounding the creation of 100 percent Foreign Owned Enterprise in Vietnam.

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