According to Tran Ngoc Quan, Trade Counsellor at the Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium and the E.U., Vietnam is currently the E.U.’s 17th largest trading partner. The country’s share of total E.U. imports has risen steadily, from 1.8% in 2023 to 2.28% in 2024, with a large proportion contributed by agricultural, forestry and aquatic products.
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Workers package coconuts for export at an enterprise in Vinh Long province. (Photo: nhandan.vn) |
Entering its fifth year of implementation, the E.U. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) continues to reduce tariffs to 0% on many Vietnamese goods, enhancing price competitiveness. In the first 11 months of 2025, Vietnam’s coffee exports to almost all E.U. markets recorded strong growth, backed by ample supply. Exports to Germany exceeded 1 billion USD, up 97.5%, while shipments to Italy reached 615.8 million USD, up 52.9%. The E.U. also remains Vietnam’s fourth largest aquatic product export market.
However, the E.U. is now tightening requirements to ensure that imported products comply with the same strict food safety, environmental and animal welfare standards applied within the bloc. Alongside increased SPS checks, the E.U. is revising monitoring rules for pesticide residue, particularly for substances banned in Europe but potentially present in imported agricultural products. Substances recently reclassified by international organizations may also be incorporated into new E.U. law.
E.U. authorities are also intensifying efforts to combat trade fraud, so Vietnam must manage trade flows with both the E.U. and third countries more rigorously to prevent origin fraud that could undermine EVFTA benefits, Quan emphasized. He suggested Vietnam and the E.U. continue discussing trade-facilitation measures such as self-certification of origin, adding ST rice to tariff-rate quotas, and allowing exports of processed meat products to the bloc.
As one of Vietnam’s leading aquatic product exporters to the E.U., Sao Ta Foods JSC (Fimex VN) invests heavily in global certifications for responsible aquaculture to meet strict hygiene and quality standards. Its Chairman Ho Quoc Luc said the company is strengthening processed shrimp exports to the E.U., focusing on high-value, deeply-processed products such as Nobashi shrimp and breaded and fried shrimp to enhance value and reduce competition pressures. With the E.U. increasingly prioritizing traceability and sustainability, the company plans to expand its ASC-certified farming areas to secure stable raw material sources.
Vegetables and fruits are also under tighter scrutiny amidst ongoing E.U. warnings on certain Vietnamese products. To avoid rejection or destruction at E.U. borders, exporters must ensure compliance from cultivation to processing, strictly meeting SPS requirements. Although the E.U. has adjusted some green transition policies, including delaying enforcement of the E.U. Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to allow more preparation, Vietnamese enterprises are advised to stay updated, prepare early and proactively adapt.
At the same time, businesses are encouraged to rethink their market strategies, not only relying on import partners but also establishing a commercial presence in the E.U. to better connect with customers, manage logistics and ensure flexible, stable supply flows.
Source: VNA