Vietnam’s trade with Chile soars 102 percent

Hanoi, September 30 (VNA) - Vietnam enjoyed a year-on-year export surge of 102 percent in January-September with Chile to 250 million USD. The country’s imports from the South American country topped 203 million USD, up 12 percent compared to the same period of 2013. This led to a trade surplus of 47 million USD for the first time for Vietnam in trading with Chile. Under t he Vietnam – Chile free trade agreement, which took effect in January, 2014, 87 .8 percent of tariff lines are lifted for goods from Chile over the next 15 years and 99.62 percent for commodities from Vietnam over a 10-year period. Seafood, coffee, black tea, crude oil, fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, frozen poultry meat, garments, footwear are among Vietnamese products eligible for tariff cut. Chile is the first South American country to sign an FTA with Vietnam. Vietnam and Chile are currently involving in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP).-VNA