The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (‘the Agreement’) was signed on 30 June 2019 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/1121. The Agreement was concluded, on behalf of the Union, on 12 June 2020 by Council Decision (EU) 2020/753.

The Agreement stipulates that customs duties on imports into the Union of goods originating in Viet Nam are to be reduced or eliminated in accordance with the tariff schedule set out in Appendix 2-A-1 of Annex 2-A to the Agreement. Annex 2-A further provides that for certain goods the elimination of customs duties is granted within tariff quotas.

Annex 2-A to the Agreement specifies that the tariff quota is to apply annually and imports are therefore to be managed on a calendar-year basis. However, as the Agreement is applicable from 1 August 2020, the pro-rata quantities for 2020 and the annual quantities for the following years should be laid down in accordance with Section B of Annex 2-A to the Agreement.

Protocol 1 of the Agreement concerns the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation. On importation into the Union, products originating in Viet Nam are to, benefit from the preferential scheme set out in this Regulation upon submission of any of the proofs of origin described in Article 15(2) of that Protocol.

The tariff quota should be managed by the Commission on the basis of the chronological order of dates of acceptance of customs declarations for release for free circulation in accordance with the rules for the management of tariff quotas laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

The Agreement is to enter into force on 1 August 2020. In order to ensure the effective management and timely application of the quotas set out in the Agreement, this Regulation should apply from that date.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,