Intellectual property rights owners are increasingly feeling the pressure from the counterfeit goods that are invading the global market. Societies worldwide also suffer, as countless people are either slaves to these criminal black marketers or victims of their faulty products. The second part of this two-part feature takes a look at some of the economic and social problems posed by counterfeiting and other IP rights violations.
June 8, 2020
On the morning of June 8, 2020, Vietnam’s National Assembly passed a resolution officially ratifying the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), with 100% of the members in attendance (representing 94.62% of all members) voting in favor. The EVFTA has been described as the most ambitious free trade agreement the EU has ever entered with a developing country, and will eliminate 99% of customs duties in both directions. The trade deal is also expected to improve access to service markets and the protection of intellectual property in Vietnam.