Early trade warning needed to better defend Vietnamese products

VNN – November 13, 2023 – 08:36

Workers at a textile factory in the northern province of Bắc Ninh. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam should set up an early warning system for trade defence to help support Vietnamese products in foreign markets, said industry leaders and policymakers.

According to data from the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnamese products have been involved in 235 trade remedies investigations in 24 markets around the world. The majority of the cases were anti-dumping (129), trade safeguard (47), evasion investigation (34) and anti-subsidy (24) in nature with products including wooden cabinets, laminated wood, solar panels, shrimp, basa fish, high-pressure washers, foam mattresses, grass cutting machines, cigarette paper, and honey.

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40,000 victims seek justice in billion-dollar Vạn Thịnh Phát bond fraud case

October 09, 2023 – 08:44

Listen to the article here

An 87-year-old man came to the Bình Thạnh District Police in HCM City last Monday morning to report a fraud related to bonds allegedly committed by one of Việt Nam’s largest property developers.

Trần Bữu Nữu, an officer belonging to the Bình Thạnh District police in HCM City, helps a victim make a complaint against Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) where she had bought the bonds. VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp
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Are free markets history?

Governments are jettisoning the principles that made the world rich

image: maxine mouysset

economist.com

Sometimes, in wars and revolutions, fundamental change arrives with a bang. More often, it creeps up on you. That is the way with what we are calling “homeland economics”, a protectionist, high-subsidy, intervention-heavy ideology administered by an ambitious state. Fragile supply chains, growing threats to national security, the energy transition and the cost-of-living crisis have each demanded action by governments—and for good reason. But when you lump them all together, it becomes clear just how systematically the presumption of open markets and limited government has been left in the dust.

For this newspaper, this is an alarming trend. We were founded in 1843 to campaign for, among other things, free trade and a modest role for government. Today these classical liberal values are not only unpopular, they are increasingly absent from political debate. Less than eight years ago President Barack Obama was trying to sign America up to a giant Pacific trade pact. Today if you argue for free trade in Washington, you will be scoffed at as hopelessly naive. In the emerging world, you will be painted as a neocolonial relic from the era when the West knew best.

Tiếp tục đọc “Are free markets history?”

The Role of Concessional Climate Finance in Accelerating the Deployment of Offshore Wind in Emerging Markets

Offshore wind will be critical to achieve the world’s decarbonization and sustainable development goals. Although the cost of offshore wind has dropped dramatically over the past decade, there will be an initial cost premium when developing offshore wind in emerging markets due to a variety of risks and constraints in establishing a new market. Concessional climate finance could help countries overcome this initial cost barrier to help reduce costs for future projects and lay the foundation for the development of successful offshore wind markets.  

This report from World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), finds that concessional climate financing is essential to unlock offshore wind in emerging markets and estimates that US$15 billion in concessional climate financing, consisting of both grants and loans, could catalyze offshore wind deployment across ten emerging market countries.   

Full report https://www.esmap.org/concessional-finance-for-offshore-wind?deliveryName=DM195051

Four Asian nations to lose $65bn this decade as heat and flooding shock clothing industry (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Vietnam)

Independent.co.uk

Researchers call on brands to invest in adaptation measures instead of mitigation

https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/XzNy1PQ3

Extreme heat and flooding could erase $65bn in apparel export earnings from four Asian countries by 2030 as it jeopardises the health of the workers, new research has revealed.

The slow growth from extreme climate conditions will also result in one million fewer jobs being created, found the study by Cornell University and Schroders.

The research mapped out the climate vulnerability of 32 apparel production hubs of six global brands in BangladeshCambodiaPakistan and Vietnam. It found flooding and heat pose material risks to entire fashion industry, leading to a 22 per cent decline in export earnings.

These projections are expected to rise significantly by 2050, representing about 69 per cent in foregone export earnings and 8.64 million fewer jobs, warned the researchers.

But brands, investors or regulators are not prioritising in planning for these risks in the countries that collectively represent 18 per cent of global apparel export due to the industry’s focus on mitigation rather than adaptation measures, said the study.

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Trillions Wasted on Subsidies Could Help Address Climate Change

worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2023 – Trillions of dollars are wasted on subsidies for agriculture, fishing and fossil fuels that could be used to help address climate change instead of harming people and the planet, a World Bank report says.

The report, Detox Development: Repurposing Environmentally Harmful Subsidies, says global direct government expenditures in the three sectors are $1.25 trillion a year—around the size of a big economy such as Mexico. To subsidize fossil fuel consumption, countries spend about six times what they pledged to mobilize annually under the Paris Agreement for renewable energies and low-carbon development.

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Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to Record $7 Trillion

IMF.org

Credit: Marcin Jozwiak/Unsplash

Scaling back subsidies would reduce air pollution, generate revenue, and make a major contribution to slowing climate change

Simon BlackIan ParryNate Vernon

August 24, 2023

Fossil-fuel subsidies surged to a record $7 trillion last year as governments supported consumers and businesses during the global spike in energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the economic recovery from the pandemic.

Tiếp tục đọc “Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to Record $7 Trillion”

Japan’s Indo-Pacific Plan – 2 part

Japan And China: Competition Or Cooperation In Southeast Asia? | Japan’s Indo-Pacific Plan – Part 1

Japan is investing in a series of infrastructure and supply chain resilience projects in ASEAN. It’s all part of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific plan launched by the Japanese government. Is this an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative? What is the current state of relations between Japan & China? Will the two Asian giants cooperate or compete?

***

How Will Japan’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Impact Southeast Asia? | Japan’s Indo-Pacific Plan – Part 2

Japan is investing in infrastructure to alleviate the economic bottlenecks in ASEAN countries. In Indonesia, it’s building the country’s first MRT project. In Vietnam, it has invested in a network of roads, rail, ports and energy infrastructure. And in the Philippines, it’s investing in a flood mitigation project. What do these projects have in common? And why has Japan chosen to invest in them?

Asia’s Sinking Cities: Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam

CNA Insider – 3/2/2021

Climate change has threatened to erase major cities in Vietnam, including its biggest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. A historic downpour which sank many parts of the city late last year was seen as a mere tip of the iceberg. It’s predicted that by 2050, the city will go underwater if no concrete measures are taken to prevent the phenomenon of rising sea levels, land subsidence, weak soil foundation due to groundwater extraction, rapid developments and population growth. What has been done to respond to the gradual sinking of the city? Can it survive a looming threat to its existence?

Bồi thường, tái định cư khi thu hồi đất: Nhìn từ Dự án thuỷ điện Bản Vẽ

Nghệ An TV – 8/3/2023

Thu hồi đất, bồi thường, tái định cư là một trong nội dung nhận được nhiều sự quan tâm khi Chính phủ đang xin ý kiến góp ý vào dự thảo Luật đất đai sửa đổi lần này. Trên thực tế, các nội dung này đều đã được quy định trong Luật đất đai 2013, hướng dẫn thi hành tại Nghị định 47 và một số nghị định bổ sung. Tuy nhiên, quá trình thực hiện đã bộc lộ nhiều bất cập. Những vấn đề nảy sinh tại Khu tái định cư cho các hộ dân bị thu hồi đất xây dựng Thuỷ điện Bản Vẽ tại huyện Tương Dương là một minh chứng.

Cổ Cò vạn dặm…

QUẢNG NAM ONLINE – QUỐC TUẤN – 17/06/2023 08:00 

Tuyến sông Cổ Cò đoạn qua Quảng Nam kỳ thực chỉ dài chưa đầy 20km, thế nhưng hành trình để dòng sông phục sinh sau bao năm vẫn nghe xa xôi như vạn dặm…

Khung cảnh thường thấy với các dự án dở dang bên dòng sông Cổ Cò chưa nạo vét xong. Ảnh: Q.T

Những lời hứa bỏ lại

Loáng một cái đã hết nửa năm 2023, thời gian cũng vùi vào cát những lời cam kết về tiến độ phục sinh dòng sông Cổ Cò.

Trong số những “lời hứa” mà các bên liên quan ký kết thực hiện vào một ngày cuối năm 2021, chỉ có việc bàn giao mặt bằng toàn bộ cầu Ông Điền là về đích vượt thời hạn. Phần còn lại, đã 6 tháng hoặc hơn một năm trôi qua nhiều “lời hứa” vẫn ngủ quên theo con nước của dòng sông này.

Thực ra, những động thái cố gắng lay thức nhịp thở của Cổ Cò vẫn luôn thường trực nhưng con đường thông dòng của sông cũng dùng dằng tựa như số phận thăng trầm trăm năm của Cổ Cò.

Tiếp tục đọc “Cổ Cò vạn dặm…”

Hành trình quả vải Lục Ngạn sang Trung Quốc: Cách một bước chân, giá gấp đôi

NN – Thứ Năm 15/06/2023 , 11:36 

Vượt qua biên giới chỉ chục km vào chợ đầu mối hoa quả lớn nhất Quảng Tây, giá vải Lục Ngạn (Bắc Giang) tăng gấp đôi.

Xe container Việt Nam và Trung Quốc tại Trung tâm Hoa quả Bằng Tường, chợ đầu mối hoa quả lớn bậc nhất Quảng Tây. Các xe sẽ sang tải tại đây, từ đó xe container Trung Quốc sẽ tiếp tục đi tới các thị trường nội địa nước này. Ảnh: Văn Việt.

Tiếp tục đọc “Hành trình quả vải Lục Ngạn sang Trung Quốc: Cách một bước chân, giá gấp đôi”

Nam Thủy Bắc Điều – tham vọng chuyển nước nhiều tranh cãi của Trung Quốc

VNE – Thứ ba, 30/8/2022, 19:00 (GMT+7)

Nam Thủy Bắc Điều – tham vọng chuyển nước nhiều tranh cãi của Trung Quốc

Nam Thủy Bắc Điều là đại dự án đưa nước từ các con sông miền nam tới miền bắc khô hạn của Trung Quốc, nhưng gây nhiều tranh cãi về môi trường.

Sơ đồ các tuyến dẫn nước trong dự án Nam Thủy Bắc Điều. Nguồn dữ liệu: Global Times

Hãng thông tấn Xinhua của Trung Quốc cho biết dự án Nam Thủy Bắc Điều, hệ thống vận chuyển nước lớn nhất thế giới, đưa nước từ miền nam lên miền bắc Trung Quốc xuyên qua lòng sông Hoàng Hà, được thử nghiệm thành công ngày 25/8. Đợt thử nghiệm được tiến hành nhằm đánh giá quá trình vận hành toàn bộ 155 đơn vị và đưa toàn bộ đại dự án vào hoạt động.

Tiếp tục đọc “Nam Thủy Bắc Điều – tham vọng chuyển nước nhiều tranh cãi của Trung Quốc”

As livelihoods clash with development, Vietnam’s Cần Giờ mangroves are at risk

Mongabay – by Lam Nguyen and Danielle Keeton-Olsen on 28 February 2023

  • Cần Giờ, a coastal district of Ho Chi Minh City, is home to a 75,740-hectare (187,158-acre) mangrove forest, planted and maintained as part of post-war reforestation efforts.
  • The district’s residents largely depend on aquaculture, shellfish gathering and small-scale ecotourism for their livelihoods.
  • The government and developers hope to market the area as an ecotourism city based on its natural beauty and post-war success story, but major projects could disrupt Cần Giờ’s precarious balance between ecosystems and livelihoods.
  • All names of sources in Cần Giờ have been changed so people could speak freely without fearing repercussions from authorities.

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Joint Declaration Against Trade-Related Economic Coercion and Non-Market Policies and Practices

The governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America released the following Joint Declaration on 9 June 2023.

From: Department for Business and Trade Published9 June 2023

The use of trade-related economic coercion and non-market-oriented policies and practices (“non-market policies and practices”) threatens and undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system and harms relations between countries. The purpose of this Declaration is to express our shared concern and affirm our commitment to enhance international cooperation in order to effectively deter and address trade-related economic coercion and non-market policies and practices.

  1. We express serious concern over trade-related economic coercion and non-market policies and practices that undermine the functioning of and confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system by distorting trade, investment, and competition and harming relations between countries. Trade-related economic coercion and non-market policies and practices threaten the livelihoods of our citizens, harm our workers and businesses, and could undermine global security and stability.
  2. Tiếp tục đọc “Joint Declaration Against Trade-Related Economic Coercion and Non-Market Policies and Practices”