HANOI: Vietnam and the US have signed a letter of intention on accelerating and completing negotiations for the signing of a customs mutual assistance agreement between the two countries.
The letter of intention was inked during a recent meeting between visiting General Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can and Acting Commissioner at the US Customs and Border Protection Agency Kevin K. McAleean in Washington D.C.
During the working session, the two sides’ customs officials stressed the preparation for the signing of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang in November 2017.
They also appreciated the efforts and determination of both sides to advance to the conclusion of the negotiations in May 2017 in the US.
They agreed to continue accelerating negotiations for the scheduled signing of the deal on the basis of practical interests brought by this to the two nations in general, and to collaboration between the two agencies in particular.
Under the letter of intention, the two customs agencies will try to reach consensus in remaining issues in the agreement, thus enabling the signing in November.
