The Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has requested its agencies and departments to strengthen export and import management for some strategic products on the domestic market.

This requirement was a part of MoIT’s Directive 10 issued on August 23 on managing imports and exports of key products to support domestic production and consumption activities.

This is considered an urgent task as the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to impact Ha Noi, HCM City and many large provinces and cities, affecting national socio-economic development.

Based on export and import activities of a number of strategic and important products for domestic production and consumption in the first seven months, the ministry has requested its agencies and departments to monitor and strengthen State management for those products.

Specifically, the import of some key products, such as petrol, coal and rice, increased sharply in the seven months, while the domestic production of those products has met local demand.

Meanwhile, some other products that the domestic market needs, had growth of exports, including iron, steel and fertiliser, according to the ministry.

Therefore, to stabilise prices and the domestic market, thereby supporting domestic production and consumption, the minister of industry and trade has requested the Viet Nam Steel Association, the Viet Nam Steel Corporation and other enterprises producing and exporting iron ore, iron and steel to review issues related to input materials for reducing production costs and selling prices.

They also need to limit the export of those products and increase productivity meeting the increasing steel demand in the domestic market.

The ministry has asked the Viet Nam Energy Association, the Viet Nam Fertiliser Association and corporations mining, producing and exporting coal and fertiliser to prioritise domestic consumption and production.

Meanwhile, the Viet Nam Petroleum Association, the Viet Nam Sugar Association, the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group, as well as corporations, and key traders in energy and sugar production industries need to prioritise trading of domestically-produced petrol and sugar products as a measure supporting domestic production.

The ministry has also requested its agencies and departments to propose measures to strengthen export and import management for goods that the domestic market needs for production and consumption. Those measures must be submitted to the Minister of Industry and Trade before August 30, 2021. Those products include rice, sugar, fertiliser, petrol, iron ore, iron and steel.

In addition, trade remedy measures need to be reviewed and updated according to existing regulations, ensuring a healthy competitive environment and supporting domestic production. The proposal on new remedy measures must also be submitted to the minister before August 30.

The General Department of Market Management directs the market management force nationwide to strengthen the inspection and control of the market, fight counterfeit goods, smuggled goods and goods violating intellectual property regulations, especially key products for domestic production and consumption, according to the directive. — VNS