The United Kingdom’s exports to Vietnam increased by 9.9% last year, and efforts are underway to sustain this growth in 2025.
The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024 is expected to enhance trade opportunities for Vietnamese importers, retailers, and distributors, according to David Johnstone, Head of Free Trade Agreement Utilisation at the UK Government.
During a business briefing in Ho Chi Minh City, hosted by the British Consulate General in collaboration with Redfern Digital and The Sentry, industry experts and local businesses explored ways to leverage the benefits of both the CPTPP and the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).
“The UK’s participation in the CPTPP will enable businesses to access a wider variety of British consumer products with improved tariff reductions and customs procedures,” Johnstone stated. “New reductions in tariffs for food and beverages, cosmetics, and consumer goods will make British products more competitive in Vietnam.”
Under the CPTPP and UKVFTA, up to 99% of UK exports to Vietnam now benefit from zero tariffs, increasing accessibility to British goods in sectors such as consumer retail, food and beverages, and health and wellness.
Beyond tariff reductions, businesses benefit from streamlined customs processes, including faster clearance times—standard shipments within 48 hours and express shipments within six hours. Additionally, UK exporters can now self-certify the origin of goods, reducing administrative requirements.
Vietnamese consumers are already familiar with British brands such as Jo Malone, Lush, The Body Shop, Mothercare, and Unilever, which are available in both physical stores and e-commerce platforms. The UK Government aims to further support British businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, in expanding their presence in Vietnam.
The 2019 UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has significantly boosted trade, particularly in the agricultural and food and beverage sectors. A report by Edelman Public & Government Affairs, commissioned by the British Embassy in Hanoi, highlighted a 97% increase in UK food and beverage exports to Vietnam from 2020 to 2023, reaching $154 million.
Recent conferences held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, co-hosted by the British Embassy and Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, explored bilateral trade opportunities under the CPTPP. Discussions covered tariff reductions, supply chain diversification, and market access in key sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, energy, and infrastructure.
A networking reception also provided opportunities for UK and Vietnamese businesses to engage with government officials and industry representatives.
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