Circular 19/2019/TT-BCT stipulating the application of special safeguard measures to implement the CPTPP Agreement was issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on September 30, 2019.

Accordingly, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall decide on the application of urgent measures to textiles and garments when the investigation conclusions of the investigating authorities contain the following contents:

Firstly, there is an increase in imports, either in absolute or relative to the volume or quantity of domestic production of the garment or textile products under investigation from member countries as a result of preferential tariff treatment under the CPTPP Agreement.
Secondly, the domestic industry is seriously injured or threatened with serious injury as a result of the above increase in imports.

In this case, the urgent measures on textiles and garments are applied by increasing the tariff rate on these goods but not exceeding the preferential tariff rate in effect at the time of application of these measures or the tariff rate in effect on the day immediately preceding January 14, 2019, whichever is lower.

The time limit for applying a transitional safeguard measures shall not exceed 2 years and may be extended for a maximum of 2 years.

This Circular takes effect from November 14, 2019.

The Circular (Vietnamese) is attached below: