BARTHCO TRADE SERVICES TEXTILE ALERT: VIETNAM CIRCULAR ON EXPORTS OF APPAREL TO THE UNITED STATES

Vietnam has issued the English translation of their Circular on Exports of Apparel to the United States.  The circular states that Vietnam will begin issuing export licenses for goods leaving Vietnam on or after March 15^th, 2007 for those categories subject to the U.S. Import Monitoring Program; however the list of categories could be subject to change.  Generally, those categories include trousers, shirts, underwear, swimwear and sweaters.

The circular goes on to state that in order to be eligible to obtain an export license traders must meet the following conditions:
1.       Traders/Manufacturers must be in possession of Business Registration Certificate or Investment License, having a registered import-export business code
2.       Traders having manufacturing capability but not in possession of an MID must apply for the MID at the Regional Agency
3.       Traders with no manufacturing capability need to have contracts signed with the relevant manufacturer and then declare that manufacturer/MID in the registration form

The circular continues to state that “Traders will need to register their export plan on-line on a quarterly basis so that the Inter-Agency may process all the categories, quantities, and unit prices…The relevant Regional Agency will then issue the export license to the trader on the basis of the export registration either before or after delivery of goods depending on need.  If the trader has not registered the export plan and/or export license with the Ministry of Trade then they will bear full responsibility about relevant export procedures/damages caused if the shipment is not cleared at the U.S. Ports.”

The full English translation of the circular can be found at the following link: http://www.amchamvietnam.com/index.php?id=1418

We will continue to keep you posted as new information becomes available.

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