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14 July 2022: UK-Vietnam FTA – Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights and Geographical Indications – minutes

Published 8 May 2024

This page relates to a meeting that took place on 14 July 2022, during the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government.

UK hosted virtually, 14 July 2022

The first meeting of the UK-Vietnam Working Group on Intellectual Property, including Geographical Indications took place on 14 July 2022 via video conference.

1. Greetings and opening remarks

The United Kingdom (UK) welcomed The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (Vietnam) and UK colleagues, setting out the UK’s ambitions for the working group and bilateral relationship going forward. Vietnam welcomed and reiterated the UK’s comments, noting that the UK-Vietnam FTA would open up more opportunities for the 2 countries.

2. Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted.

3. Adoption of the Rules of Procedure (RoP)

The UK-Vietnam Trade Committee RoP were adopted mutatis mutandis for the purpose of this meeting and future meetings.

4. General IP section

4.1 Update from the UK

The UK provided an update on changes to its IP regime since signature, including recent consultations on exhaustion of IP rights, call for views and legislative changes.

4.2 Update from Vietnam

Vietnam provided an update on the changes to its IP law that were agreed by the National Assembly in June 2022, including changes to the law on copyright, patents, trademarks, and geographical indications as well as changes to strengthen border and on-the-market enforcement of IP rights.

5. Geographical Indications (GI) update

5.1 Update from the UK

The UK presented on its GI schemes, which were launched on 1 January 2021, and answered questions on the scheme from Vietnam.

5.2 Update from Vietnam

Vietnam presented on its GI scheme and answered questions on the scheme from the UK.

5.3 Reviewing of GI lists

The UK proposed the amendment of Annex 12-A to add further GIs to the UK-Vietnam FTA. Vietnam said it encouraged the UK to seek further GI protection through national registration procedures rather than through FTA amendment procedure. Vietnam will report the UK’s proposals to competent authorities. The UK and Vietnam agreed to exchange further information on the procedure for agreeing mandate to discuss amendment of GI Annex.

6. Next steps, operational conclusions, and joint minutes

The UK proposed next steps, including follow-up cooperation, to which Vietnam agreed.

7. Closing remarks and AOB

The UK and Vietnam expressed mutual gratitude for the cooperative, productive, and informative meeting, noting that they look forward to further engagements.

Annex A: operational conclusions

Operational conclusions (OCs) of the first Meeting of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights, including GIs between the United Kingdom and Vietnam

14 July 2022, conducted online

Working group general actions

Agenda item	OC number	Party	Action	Deadline
Minutes	1	UK	UK to share draft minutes with Vietnam for review and agreement	12 August 2022 [RoP deadline]
Slides	2	UK and Vietnam	UK and Vietnam to review and where possible exchange slides presented in the meeting	1 August 2022

Geographical indication actions

Agenda item	OC number	Party	Action	Deadline
UK Law on GIs	3	UK	UK to provide links to UK laws on Geographical Indications	1 August 2022
Enforcement of GIs in Vietnam	4	Vietnam	Vietnam to provide UK with contacts for competent authorities for GI enforcement	1 August 2022
Addition of GIs to Annex 12	5	Vietnam and UK	Vietnam and UK to exchange further information on the procedure for agreeing mandate to discuss amendment of GI Annex	30 September 2022
Addition of GIs to Annex 12	6	UK	UK to share GI details for information	30 September 2022