The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with relevant agencies, is scheduled to hold the launch ceremony for the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) 2025 Index in Ha Noi on August 18.

With a network of 17 free trade agreements currently in effect, Viet Nam has a series of "highways" at its disposal connecting it to most of the world's economy. However, for exports to truly become the driving force for double-digit growth in this new development phase, the preferential treatment from new-generation FTAs ​​needs to be translated into real value.

In the first six months of 2026, Viet Nam’s agricultural exports to the Middle East slowed as geopolitical conflicts drove up logistics costs and disrupted supply chains. However, with high import demand, substantial consumer potential, and advantages created by free trade agreements (FTAs), the region remains a strategic market for Vietnamese agricultural products.

Viet Nam is quietly pushing ahead with reforms and emerging as an attractive destination for investors in the 2026–2035 period, according to an analysis published by US-based logistics website morethanshipping.com.

Viet Nam’s total foreign trade value reached 155.7 billion USD in the first two months of 2026, up 22.2% year-on-year, while the country recorded a trade deficit of 2.98 billion USD, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance.

As one of the world’s largest free trade agreements (FTAs), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is increasingly asserting its role as a pillar of the global trading system, especially at a time when geopolitical instability and protectionist trends are on the rise.

According to the Centre for WTO and International Trade (under the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – VCCI), Viet Nam is currently a participant in and negotiator of 19 free trade agreements (FTAs), most of which have already come into effect with more than 60 partners across various continents, covering nearly 90% of global GDP.

In addition to ensuring goods standards and quality, firms are recommended to pay attention to sustainable development, especially issues concerning biodiversity and wildlife conservation, in order to take advantage of new generation free trade agreements (FTAs).

According to the Centre for WTO and International Trade (WITC) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vietnam’s international economic integration has recorded a significant shift from breadth (participating in the World Trade Organisation-WTO) to depth (participating in many Free Trade Agreements-FTAs).