The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said implementing commitments to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement would give Vietnam an opportunity to step up environmental protection.
Vietnam is expected to gain many economic, political and social benefits from the TPP, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said at a conference held in Hanoi last week to evaluate the impact of the TPP on Vietnam’s environment regulations.
However, Nhan noted that Vietnam would face a slew of challenges as it is the least developed economy among 12 TPP member states while the commitments to the agreement are more demanding than the other trade pacts Vietnam has signed.
Nhan said TPP is the first trade agreement to include environmental commitments which cover different fields under the management of different ministries such as biodiversity, invasive alien species, climate change, marine environment protection and environmental goods and services managed by the natural-environment ministry; fisheries and wildlife trafficking under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and prevention of pollution from vessels overseen by the Ministry of Transport.
Nhan said TPP commitments aim at not only achieving extensive trade liberalization but also boosting environmental protection, sustainable development and the improvement of environmental regulations. The trade pact also specifies the establishment of a committee in charge of monitoring the implementation of the commitments and set up mechanisms for resolving environmental disputes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has established a working group to implement Vietnam’s natural resource and environmental commitments to the TPP and the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (EVFTA), with the Legal Department under the ministry responsible for relevant issues.
The department has reviewed the natural resource and environmental commitments to the TPP, assessed its impact on environment regulations and proposed amendments and supplements to make relevant legal documents compatible to those in the TPP and EVFTA.
Nhan said the full fulfillment of environmental commitments in the TPP is not only an obligation but also an opportunity for Vietnam to further strengthen environmental management and protection.
Vietnam and 11 other Pacific Rim countries signed the TPP in New Zealand in February this year and the deal is awaiting ratification by lawmakers of the 12 nations.
Source: http://english.thesaigontimes.vn
Key words: TPP, environmental protection
