Customs Union, Vietnam hold talks on free trade pact

ALMATY, Apr 5 (Xinhua): The first round of negotiations on a free trade agreement was held between the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Customs Union and Vietnam in Kazakhstan's largest city of Almaty, the country's Economy and Budget Planning Ministry said on Friday.
Negotiators from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan -- members of the Customs Union -- and Vietnam carried out consultations on commodities trade, tariff regulation, the country-of-origin rule, intellectual property protection, and national procurement, the ministry's press service said.
They also reached an agreement on e-commerce and phytosanitary measures in the draft deal, the press service said.
A free trade zone between the trade bloc and Vietnam, once established, would boost exports of goods from Customs Unions member to the southeastern Asian country and promote bilateral trade relations, according to the ministry.
The Eurasian Economic Customs Union, launched on Jan. 1, 2010, is aimed at providing a single customs territory, where countries participating in the union apply uniform tariffs and other regulations for trade with other countries.