Customs actively prevents origin fraud of import and export goods

	Ha Noi Customs controls commodities with high risk oforigin fraud
	Finance Ministry to tighten control of cross-border retail activities
	Anti-origin fraud is a vital element of economic activity

Bicycle with forged Vietnamese origin seized by Binh Duong Customs in October 2019. Photo: T.D

For example, the violation in origin by Asanzo or the case of importing of millions tonnes of aluminum to Vietnam with sign of forged origin for export to the US and other countries were discussed. Vietnam has signed and participated in a series of free trade agreements with major partners to expand markets and boost exports, and Vietnam has the risk of becoming a country for transshipment of smuggled goods. Therefore, the Director General of Vietnam Customs-Member of the National Steering Committee of 389 said Customs are determined not to let Vietnam to become a transshipment county and support trade fraud, affecting national benefits.

Facing the development of trade war between economic powers, the role of Customs administration, supervision and control is very important to detect and prevent frauds, forged goods origin and label, illicit transshipment, and protect Vietnamese manufacturers and attract investment in production. Following the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has deployed solutions to prevent origin fraud.

Specifically, implementing Prime Minister's Decision No.824/QD-TTg of July 4 on the approval of the scheme strengthening the state management on prevention from the avoidance of trade remedies and origin fraud, the Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 1662/QD-BTC dated August 27, 2019 to deploy the Prime Minister’s scheme, which specifies the responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance and coordination with relevant ministries and sectors. On that basis, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued a plan to inspect, verify and combat the acts of trademark counterfeiting, origin fraud to smuggle, evade taxes, cheat consumers and illegally transship.

In August 2019, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued Official Dispatch 5189/TCHQ-GSQL to instruct Customs authorities at all levels to strengthen inspection, identification of origin, combat fraud, counterfeiting origin, labelling of goods, infringement of intellectual property rights and illicit transshipment. Accordingly, there is a need for specific solutions for each stage in processing customs procedures, regulations on coordination between specialised units at local and central levels.

Accordingly, customs units closely monitor the import of some targeted products which have sharp change in import and export turnover and are imported from high risk markets on the avoidance of trade remedies (plywood, bicycles, electric bicycles and components; leather and bag; computers, electronic products and components; electrical appliances and components; phones and components; aluminum and aluminum products; Iron and steel and iron, steel products), goods are imported into Vietnam for export to other major markets, affecting the reputation of Vietnamese goods. Therefore, providing measures and proposals to prevent and handle.

In addition, Customs has discussed with customs authorities of the US, the EU, Japan, and embassies in Vietnam to collect information related to statistics of commodities and import, export turnover from Vietnam to these countries and vice versa, the list of goods subject to anti-dumping duties on countries and the forecast that Vietnam's export goods will be applied trade remedies by the US, the EU, Japan; coordinated with ministries, branches and industry associations to evaluate domestic production capacity, detect suspicious signs to enhance the fight against origin fraud.