The minister requests the Trade Remedies Authority to actively monitor the domestic market and propose use of trade remedies for imported sugar products in accordance with international commitments.

At the same time, this authority would establish a synchronous and accurate database on sugar import, export and production based on information from the relevant authorities to support businesses in preparing trade defence records.

The Import-Export Department is asked this year to complete proposals on management measures for the import-export activities of sugar products.

Meanwhile, the General Department of Market Surveillance this year must submit to the Government a decree replacing Decree 185/2013/ND-CP on providing penalties on administrative violations in commercial activities, production of, trading in counterfeit or banned goods and protection of consumer rights, and Decree 124/2015/ND-CP about amending and supplementing a number of articles to Decree 185/2013/ND-CP.

This general department must strengthen management and inspections to prevent and strictly handle smuggling and commercial fraud for sugar and sweetening products, according to the minister.

The solutions of the Ministry of Industry and Trade are expected to protect domestic sugar production, create a fair business environment and bring more favourable conditions in improving competitiveness of local sugar producers.

Viet Nam produced 7.3 million tonnes of sugarcane and had a total output of about 769,000 tonnes of sugar in the 2019-20 sugarcane crop that ended in May 2020. — VNS