The planned free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam is in the doldrums. According to our sources, the draft of the agreement is practically ready, but it will be very hard for the European Commission to get it translated into all the languages of the EU for approval by the European Council before the European parliamentary elections in May. The agreement has already been approved by the present parliament, but it may have to be endorsed by the new parliament if the language issue is not resolved by then. Apparently, the European Commission feels that there are other more important issues to be tackled first. One of the benefits of the new trade agreement would be a drop in the EU's tariffs on shoes made in Vietnam.

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