Foreign firms in Vietnam expect to benefit from TPP pact

The news was released at a forum organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ho Chi Minh City last Friday.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is being negotiated, would make it easier to find partners once the tariffs are cut by the members, Josephine Yei, a representative of the Malaysia Business Chamber, said.

Vietnam major export items like garment, seafood, and processed materials would meet fewer barriers and Malaysian businesses in these industries would benefit from the TPP, she said.

The admission to the TPP would require Vietnamese authorities to improve the country's legal framework, which would enable Malaysian businesses to gain better protection and access to proper channels for handling trade disputes and arbitration, she added.

But Malaysian businesses would still have some concerns since under the trade deal workers would have the right to set up unions and negotiate the provisions of their labour contracts with employers.

In a country they find attractive because of the “easy access”  to labour, they fear this could make things harder for them in the future, according to Yei.

Considering the potential of the TPP, there should be more FDI coming into Vietnam  in the coming years, according to Chen Hsin-Ming, chairman of the Council of Taiwanese Chamber. For instance, his organisation has noticed that some Taiwanese investors in the textile industry plan to enlarge production in Vietnam.

“We have noticed some large investors conducting comprehensive feasibility studies for investment in this country. They are looking at enhanced market access opportunities once tariff elimination or reduction under the TPP is in effect."

Taiwan is the second largest investor in Vietnam with over US$27 billion in more than 2,230 projects.

Antony Nezic, vice president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the TPP offers an opportunity to advance Canadian interests in the Asia-Pacific, which is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world and a key driver of the global economy. It also offers Canada a foothold in the burgeoning Asian market and access to critical Asia-Pacific value chains, he said.

Asia is expected to represent two-thirds of the world's middle class by 2030 and 50 per cent of global GDP by 2050.

Junn Huyn Soo of the Korea Chamber of Commerce, who is also the chairman of the 500-strong Korean Textile and Garment Association here, said: “The essence of the TPP is to provide a winning strategy for all Pacific nations.”

The agreement would contribute to Vietnam’s economic growth, he said.

Last year the country exported textile and garments worth US$15 billion, of which Korean firms accounted for around 30 per cent.