Comparison of Vietnam’s commitments to liberalizing trade in distribution services under the WTO and the EVFTA

This study compares Vietnam’s commitments to liberalizing trade in distribution services under the World Trade Organization and the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. It examines differences in scope, market-opening levels, implementation schedules, market-access obligations, and national treatment. The findings show that Vietnam’s WTO commitments established the fundamental framework for opening distribution services, while the EVFTA introduced broader and deeper liberalization, particularly by easing selected market-entry conditions for European Union investors. The comparison illustrates the evolution of Vietnam’s trade-liberalization policy and provides a basis for implementing international commitments, improving domestic legislation, and balancing market openness with effective regulation of distribution services.