This guide is for Spanish companies that already sell to Vietnam or are considering it, and want to know what the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) really offers them. By the end you will know which tariffs have gone or are going, what you need to do so that your Vietnamese customer pays the preferential tariff, and which other benefits beyond tariffs you can take advantage of.
What the EVFTA is and where it stands in 2026
The EU-Vietnam trade agreement entered into force on 1 August 2020, according to the European Commission. It is a "new generation" agreement: as well as cutting tariffs, it includes chapters on technical barriers, sanitary measures, services, public procurement, intellectual property and sustainable development.
It is worth distinguishing it from its twin agreement, the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA). It was signed on 30 June 2019, but it needs ratification by each Member State and is not yet in force; the Commission states that, by mid-2024, 18 had ratified it. In the meantime, Spain's Secretariat of State for Trade points out that the 2011 bilateral agreement on the promotion and protection of investments between Spain and Vietnam still applies, and the IPA will replace it once it enters into force.
To put the relationship in context: according to the Commission, trade in goods between the EU and Vietnam totalled €76 billion in 2025, with an EU deficit of €51.7 billion. Trade in services was around €9 billion in 2024. The main European exports to Vietnam are machinery and appliances, chemicals and transport equipment.
Which tariffs Vietnam removes and when
The agreement is asymmetric: the EU had a maximum of seven years to liberalise and Vietnam ten. According to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, on entry into force Vietnam removed tariffs on 48.5% of tariff lines, equivalent to 64.5% of EU exports. After seven years the figure rises to 91.8% of lines (97.1% of value) and after ten years to 98.3% of lines (99.8% of value). The rest is subject to longer timelines or quotas.
The table summarises the commitments that most affect a Spanish company, based on the fact sheets from Spain's Secretariat of State for Trade and the EU Delegation to Vietnam. The "previous" tariffs are those quoted in the Spanish fact sheet before entry into force.
| Product | Previous tariff (approx.) | EVFTA timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery and electrical appliances | Up to 35% | Almost all duty-free since 2020; the rest after 5 years |
| Chemicals | Up to 5% (and up to 25% for some) | Around 70% duty-free since 2020; the rest after 3, 5 or 7 years |
| Pharmaceuticals | Up to 8% | Half duty-free since 2020; the rest after 7 years |
| Textiles | 12% | Duty-free since 2020 |
| Automotive components | Up to 32% | 7 years |
| Cars | 78% | 10 years (9 years for large engines) |
| Wine and spirits | 50% and 48% | 7 years |
| Beer | — | 10 years |
| Frozen pork | Between 15% and 40% (meat products) | 7 years |
| Dairy | Up to 20% | Up to 5 years |
| Food preparations | — | Up to 7 years |
The timelines run from August 2020. As a rough guide, products on a seven-year schedule are completing their tariff phase-out between 2026 and 2027, and those on a ten-year schedule will reach zero around 2029-2030. The exact rate for each year is set out in the Vietnamese Government's Decree 116/2022/NĐ-CP, which lays down the EVFTA preferential tariff for 2022-2027 code by code. Treat the table as a guide and always check your specific tariff heading.
How to find the tariff for your product
- Classify your product using its Harmonised System code (the first six digits are the same in the EU and in Vietnam).
- Look up the preferential tariff in the European Commission's Access2Markets tool or in the annex to Decree 116/2022/NĐ-CP.
- Compare it with the general tariff (most favoured nation) to see how much your importer saves.
- Add domestic taxes. The EVFTA does not affect excise duties or Vietnamese VAT; it only requires that European products are not treated less favourably than local ones. For products such as wine or spirits, excise duty has to be added when calculating the final price.
Rules of origin: the condition for paying less
The preferential tariff only applies to products originating in the EU. A product manufactured in Spain with components from outside the EU may or may not qualify, depending on the specific rule for its tariff heading. The Commission's guidance describes three pillars:
- Product-specific rules. Many require a change of tariff heading; others set a maximum percentage of non-originating materials, usually between 50% and 70% of the ex-works price. For vehicles the limit is 45%; for automotive spare parts, 50%.
- Tolerance. You may use non-originating materials that the rule would otherwise prohibit, provided they do not exceed 10% of the ex-works price (for industrial products, except textiles) or 10% of the weight (for agricultural products).
- Non-alteration. Goods may pass through a third country, for example a logistics hub in Singapore, provided they are not processed and remain under customs control. Relabelling or splitting consignments is allowed under those conditions.
The agreement also allows bilateral cumulation: materials originating in Vietnam count as originating in a European product, and vice versa. It also permits duty drawback (refund or suspension of duties on imported materials) for companies operating under inward processing.
How to prove origin: REX and the statement on origin
This is where most mistakes are made. According to the Commission's origin guidance (February 2026 version):
- No EUR.1 certificate is issued in the EU for exports to Vietnam. Origin is proven with a statement on origin on the invoice or another commercial document.
- If the consignment exceeds €6,000, the statement must be made by an exporter registered in the REX system, the EU's database of registered exporters.
- If the consignment does not exceed €6,000, any exporter can make the statement without a REX number, but must sign it by hand and send the original to the importer.
- A REX number is valid across the whole EU and for any agreement that uses this system. If you already have one for exporting to Japan or Canada, it also works for Vietnam.
- The wording of the statement is set out in Annex VI of the protocol on origin. In the space for the authorisation number you enter your REX number and, as origin, "EU".
- The proof of origin is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Statements from registered exporters do not need a signature. The Commission's guidance notes that Vietnam Customs confirmed this in writing in December 2020, in case your importer runs into problems at clearance.
The costliest detail: no retrospective claims
In the EU, preference can be claimed after import by submitting the proof of origin later. Not in Vietnam. According to the Commission's guidance, the importer must request preferential treatment at the time of import and has 30 days to submit the proof of origin. If it is not requested at clearance, the excess duty paid cannot be recovered afterwards.
The practical consequence: the statement on origin must be ready when the goods ship, not when the customer asks for it.
Beyond tariffs
The EVFTA also reduces barriers that do not appear in the tariff schedule. These are the ones that tend to matter most to a Spanish SME.
Technical and sanitary barriers
- Cars and components. Vietnam accepts EU type-approval certificates based on UNECE regulations, without additional testing, for passenger cars and their components. This annex has applied since the third year of the agreement.
- "Made in EU" marking. Vietnam accepts this origin marking on non-agricultural products, in addition to that of each Member State.
- Food. Vietnam undertakes to treat the EU as a single entity and to apply "pre-listing": if it approves a Member State's control system, it authorises that country's establishments without inspecting them one by one. This is relevant for meat and dairy products.
- Pharmaceuticals. Foreign companies can set up subsidiaries to import authorised medicines, sell them to distributors and wholesalers, and run their own warehouses.
Geographical indications
According to the EU Delegation to Vietnam, 169 European geographical indications are protected in Vietnam, including Rioja. This means a local producer cannot sell a wine as "Rioja" unless it comes from there. If your product has a designation of origin, check whether it appears in the list annexed to the intellectual property chapter.
Services, investment and public procurement
Vietnam opened sectors beyond its WTO commitments: computer services (the entire sector), environmental services, part of financial services, maritime transport and distribution, among others. In retail, it removed the economic needs test five years after entry into force. It also made temporary entry easier for executives, specialists and business visitors.
If your plan involves having your own presence, our guide on how to set up a company in Vietnam as a foreigner explains the procedures.
In public procurement, European companies can bid on equal terms with central ministries, the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, subsidiaries of the electricity company EVN, the railway operator VNR and 34 hospitals under the Ministry of Health. Thresholds are high at first and fall over 15 years: for goods and services procured by central government, from 1.5 million to 130,000 special drawing rights.
Common mistakes when exporting under the EVFTA
- Assuming your product is "originating". Being made in Spain is not enough: the rule for its tariff heading is what counts. Check it before quoting a zero-tariff price.
- Not registering with REX in time. Above €6,000 per consignment, no REX number means no preference.
- Sending the statement on origin late. Vietnam has no retrospective refund; if the importer does not claim the preference at clearance, it is lost.
- Forgetting domestic taxes. A zero tariff does not guarantee a competitive price if the product is subject to excise duties, which the agreement does not regulate.
- Overlooking product authorisations. Pharmaceuticals, food of animal origin and other regulated products still need authorisations or registrations in Vietnam. The agreement simplifies some procedures, but does not remove them.
- Mixing up export and import rules. The rules for Vietnam to the EU (with a EUR.1 certificate issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade) are not the same as those for the EU to Vietnam.
If you are considering Vietnam as a market, our Vietnam market entry page explains how we approach the preliminary analysis and the search for partners.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EVFTA remove Vietnam's tariffs on every European product?
On almost every one, but not all at once. Ten years after entry into force, Vietnam will have liberalised 98.3% of tariff lines, covering 99.8% of European exports. Some products, such as refined sugar, salt and eggs, remain subject to quotas.
Do I need a certificate of origin to export to Vietnam?
Not in the traditional sense: no EUR.1 certificate is issued in the EU. A statement on origin on the invoice is enough, made by an exporter registered in REX if the consignment exceeds €6,000. Below that amount, any exporter can make it, with a handwritten signature.
Can the preferential tariff be applied to a consignment that has already cleared customs?
Not in Vietnam. The importer must request it at the time of import and has 30 days to provide the proof of origin. After that point, there is no refund of the duty paid.
Does the agreement protect my investments in Vietnam?
The trade agreement includes market access commitments for investing in several sectors. Investment protection depends on a separate agreement (the IPA), which is not yet in force. In the meantime, the 2011 bilateral agreement between Spain and Vietnam applies.
How Agilean can help
At Agilean we help Spanish and European companies assess the Vietnamese market and prepare their entry from Ho Chi Minh City. We review with your team how the EVFTA affects your products, put you in touch with customs brokers, advisers and potential local distributors, and follow up on the ground. Our team works in Spanish. You can see how we work on our Vietnam market entry page.