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+44 (0) 2476 414 999The Federation of Sports & Play Associations (FSPA) is pleased to announce that on 25June 2019, the European Council officially approved the signature of the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) agreement.
This will mean that, for textiles and clothing, EU import duties of these products from Vietnam will be eliminated over an eight-year phase-out period once the agreement comes into force.
Garments produced in Vietnam from fabrics made in South Korea or other ASEAN countries with which the EU has a free trade agreement will also qualify for duty-free treatment.
FSPA Director of General Affairs, Jane Montgomery, explains: “Ensuring that the agreement was signed before the summer break has been one of the key priorities for the FSPA and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) over the past few months. It will allow the new Members of the European Parliament to work on this agreement as soon as they arrive in Brussels.”
The agreement will be officially signed on Sunday 30 June in Hanoi between Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, Romanian Trade Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea and Vietnamese Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh.
“After the summer break, the recently elected Members of the European Union will start working on the agreement,” adds Jane. “The consent of the European Parliament is required for the agreement to enter into force. The FSPAwill continue to engage with UK Government and MEPs to ensure a positive vote in the INTA committee and in the plenary. The timeframe remains uncertain, but we expect most of the parliamentary work to take place during Q3/Q4 2019.”
Publication in the official journal and entry into force will take place shortly after the Parliament gives its consent to the agreement.
It’s great to be part of an organisation that campaigns for investment in children’s play facilities and which raises the standards of the entire industry.
Having the support of the FSPA behind us is tremendously beneficial and greatly enhances the offering to our membership.
I have been a member of SPE for many years now and every member shows a 100% commitment to promote participation in sport and play in the UK.
It’s sometimes difficult to get heard when you stand on your own. But when you're part of a respected body like the FSPA, people listen and things start to happen.
The opportunity to meet with like-minded people across our sector to discuss some of the challenges is always invaluable.
Working together as a group of companies creates a stronger voice for the play industry, which benefits both suppliers and customers.