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Strengthening cooperation with Canada Border Services Agency

Within the framework of bilateral cooperation with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Viet Nam Customs held a meeting with Ms. Cindy Likins, Counselor, CBSA International Network Manager, and Mr. Albert Chow, First Secretary, CBSA liaison officer, the Embassy of Canada to Viet Nam, at the headquarters of the Department of Customs. Representatives from relevant Sub-Departments of Viet Nam Customs, including Customs Duty and Tax Operations Sub- Department, Risk Management Sub- Department, Anti-smuggling Investigation Branch, and Post-clearance Audit Branch, participated in the meeting.

The Counsellor position at the Embassy of Canada to Viet Nam and the First Secretary, CBSA liaison officer position at the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City were established in October 2022. This demonstrates a commitment to cooperation with relevant agencies in Viet Nam in areas covered by the CBSA, including customs, border control and immigration.

Based on the CPTPP Agreement and the framework of the World Customs Organization, of which both sides are members, CBSA proposed areas for cooperation and support for Viet Nam Customs in the future such as AEO, goods classification and anti-smuggling.

Both sides agreed to focus on substantive cooperation, facilitating businesses in both countries and ensuring the legitimate flow of trade through border control measures. Accordingly, to enhance the effectiveness of preventing and combating smuggling, trade fraud and illegal trafficking of goods and drugs along the Viet Nam - Canada route, it is necessary to strengthen intelligence sharing and coordination in customs control by providing contact points for direct information exchange between the two customs authorities to support anti-smuggling efforts and specific cooperation activities in this field.

According to trade statistics, Canada is the second largest trading partner of Viet Nam in the Americas. Bilateral trade relations maintain a stable growth trend, import and export turnover between the two countries consistently exceeding 7 billion USD, especially reaching nearly 8.6 billion USD in 2025. Conversely, Viet Nam is the largest trading partner of Canada in the ASEAN region. Therefore, building on the signed CPTPP Agreement and the upcoming Canada - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, import and export turnover between the two countries will continue its strong growth trajectory, and customs cooperation will contribute to the healthy development of bilateral trade, benefiting the people and businesses of both countries.

Thiện Nguyễn