The Impact of Tariffs on Vietnam’s Trade in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

The study assesses the impact of tariffs on Vietnam’s trade in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Research data was conducted between 2001 and 2018 on the official website of the Uncomtrade and the World Bank. This paper uses the gravity model to estimate the relationship between data series and considers the impact of factors on Vietnam’s trade with CPTPP countries. The results have proven that tariff reductions have a positive effect on Vietnam’s trade. Besides, the trade openness of Vietnam and CPTPP countries has positive impacts on Vietnam’s trade. The study also shows that Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) between Vietnam’s and CPTPP countries’ currencies has no strong effect on Vietnam’s trade. Based on these findings, the article also suggests a number of policies to promote Vietnam’s trade in future. In order to support businesses to better utilize opportunities and promote exports to CPTPP countries, the government of Vietnam should: (1) focus on reducing costs and time to participate in the market for production and business investors; (2) improve business investment environment to mobilize resources for production; and (3) continue to organize information campaigns to raise businesses’ awareness of how to take advantage of CPTPP preferences.