BRUSSELS- EU lawmakers gave initial backing on Tuesday for a free trade agreement struck with Vietnam, the bloc’s most comprehensive such pact with a developing country and a sign that Europe has a appetite for a more expansive trade policy.
The international trade committee of the European Parliament voted by 29-6 in favour of the trade agreement. The deal will be put to a vote in the full parliament when it meets in the week starting Feb. 10.
The EU-Vietnam agreement is the European Union’s second deal with a country of the Association of Southeast Asian nations, after Singapore, and one of few with a developing country.
Critics have taken issue with the agreement over Vietnam’s record on human and labour rights, although the deal does include commitments in those areas.
(Content and photos syndicated via Reuters)