Ha Noi (VNA) - The European Commission since 1998 has provided Viet Nam with 3.9 million EUR for the Multilateral Trade Policy Assistance Programme (MUTRAP) project.

The MUTRAP implementation was reviewed at a meeting held in Ha Noi by the Ministry of Trade and the European Commission (EC) on Tuesday.

MUTRAP bridging phase has been in operation since August 12, 2004, after the successful completion of MUTRAP I and its extension phase. In the bridging phase, the EC continues providing Viet Nam with technical assistance in WTO accession negotiations until the beginning of MUTRAP II, scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2005. This phase ensures continuous technical assistance to sectors relating to the negotiations (law, advertisement, audiovisual, educational, environmental, healthcare and tourism services); and involves the clarification of  articles in the framework of WTO agreements, including SPS and TBT agreements.

The project will begin activities in research on trade and environment, and assessment of tax reduction' impacts on a number of main industries; further integration into the ASEAN and the procurement of technical assistance for WTO negotiations; and the creation of a systematic and sustainable socio-economic development in the economic integration process.

Total funding for the implementation of MUTRAP in its first, extension and bridging phases since 1998 has been more  than 3.9 million EUR.