HA NOI — A conference on the problems faced by Viet Nam one year after joining the World Trade Organisation opened in Ha Noi yesterday, co-organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the World Bank and Viet Nam’s post-WTO Co-operation Technical Programme.

Intellectual property protection, Viet Nam’s implementation of WTO obligations, improvements in the legal system and the impact of agricultural and environmental agreements on the legislation of Viet Nam were among 11 issues discussed at the conference.

The issue of intellectual property was mentioned as one of the most urgent problems of the post-WTO period.

According to experts, Viet Nam’s weak enforcement mechanisms for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) has hindered the development of high-tech industries, an area in which Vietnam has huge potential. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry continues to be troubled by illegal piracy.

According to Thomas Theutler, a lawyer invited to the conference by the World Bank, Viet Nam should apply stronger fines for violations of IPR and establish a specialised intellectual property court.
Experts at the conference also suggested that courts should make their decisions independently without the aid of administrative agencies.

The conference went on to cover the impacts of WTO membership on agriculture as well as the influence of the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) on the legislation of Viet Nam.

Viet Nam currently faces problems in supporting farmers and foodstuffs processors, in particular with poor infrastructure compared to that of its main competitors in agricultural trade. Difficulties also remain in the monitoring, surveillance and reporting of plant and animal health and food safety hazards.
Regarding Viet Nam’s implementation of WTO obligations and improvements in the legal system, David Gantz from the University of Arizona suggested raising judicial salaries, improvement of legal and judicial training and the creation of a specialised court or courts with exclusive jurisdiction over international trade cases, intellectual property cases and commercial cases. He also proposed establishing a truly independent anti-corruption commission, increasing transparency, and the publication and disclosure of proceedings throughout the central and provincial governments. —VNS