Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade TranTuan Anh said on March 20 that EU and US authorities have yet to limit theimport of garment products from Vietnam.

During a meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Trade(MoIT)’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, Anh said the recentsuspension and cancellation of several orders from the EU and US was merely madeby purchasers due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Director of the MoIT’s European and American MarketDepartment Ta Hoang Linh said upon hearing the news, the department held aworking session with the EU Delegation to Vietnam and the US Embassy.

The EU officials affirmed the EU’s border shutdown is meantto protect people’s health. Goods and services to the EU, especiallynecessities such as food and medicine, are still circulating so that the policyis not directly impacting Vietnam – EU trade, he said.

Linh added that due to the closure of retail systems in Europeand the US, necessities such as footwear and apparel have been hit.

He said the MoIT will continue working closely with tradeoffices in the two markets to offer support to Vietnamese footwear and apparel exportersin the near future.

Director of the MoIT’s Industry Department Truong Thanh Hoaisuggested allowing debt payment delay to businesses in the field, as well asboosting exports to China, the Republic of Korea and Japan when the epidemic isunder control.

Concluding the event, Anh said the situation required newscenarios with more drastic actions, that’s why deeper and more updatedanalyses are needed.

Under any circumstance, he asked the sector to act incompliance with the Government and Prime Minister’s directions.

Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showedthat Vietnam’s garment exports to the US remained high in the first two monthsof this year, reaching 2.3 billion USD./.