The Prime Minister has directed ministries and sectors to accelerate trade promotion with a focus on selective importation of raw materials, components, equipment, and technology to support production and contribute to trade balance in major markets like the US and EU.

The directive was issued under Directive No. 18, outlining tasks and solutions to promote domestic and international trade activities in 2025.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister instructed ministries, sectors, and localities to continue implementing trade promotion tasks and solutions to boost trade activities in 2025. These include enhancing export-focused trade promotion, expanding the market share of Vietnamese goods in traditional and FTA/CEPA partner markets, diversifying export destinations, and reducing reliance on high-risk markets.

He emphasized the importance of trade promotion activities for reasonable and efficient imports aligned with production and business needs.

Domestically, the Prime Minister urged the implementation of promotional programs, supply-demand linkage initiatives, and the reinforcement of the “Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods” campaign. He called for stronger trade promotion and goods distribution via digital platforms, alongside market information support and legal consulting services for businesses to unlock domestic markets.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked with closely monitoring global and regional economic developments to promptly propose policies and appropriate actions, identify and leverage opportunities to diversify markets, products, and supply chains, and promote trade and exports.

Special attention should be given to integrating and facilitating the signing of market access agreements for Vietnamese goods, and expanding bilateral and multilateral trade commitments.

Selective imports of raw materials, components, and equipment

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to assess the potential for establishing new Trade Promotion Offices in key markets, with the aim of expanding Vietnam’s global trade promotion network and supporting Vietnamese enterprises abroad.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also tasked with organizing diverse and effective trade promotion activities for both exports and imports. Focus will be placed on products where Vietnam holds competitive advantages, targeting key markets, FTA partners, niche and emerging markets.

Furthermore, the Ministry is directed to intensify trade promotion for high-tech products, especially in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automation, machinery, equipment, components, and renewable energy.

Efforts will be made to selectively import essential raw materials, components, equipment, and technology that support domestic production capacity enhancement and product value addition for export. These measures aim to contribute to trade balance, particularly in major markets such as the US and EU.

The Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to review and adjust the agricultural production structure to match domestic and export market demands.

They are also to guide enterprises and localities in adopting environmentally sustainable standards to meet the expectations of high-end markets and mitigate risks from technical barriers and carbon taxes. In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and sectoral associations, they will support and train farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural businesses in accessing and developing e-commerce platforms.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is tasked with ramping up national cultural and tourism promotion activities, integrating trade promotion through international cultural, culinary, and tourism events.

For local governments, the Prime Minister instructed provincial and municipal People’s Committees to proactively engage in trade promotion, market development, and efforts to attract and expand investment in business and production activities.

The Vinh