Story perspectives

EU registers defense firms for Vietnam’s December expo

By Drooid · Oct 22, 2026, 11:15 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

To Lam advances partnership

President To Lam met EU leaders in Brussels to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa discussed expanding trade, investment and critical raw materials.
Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas confirmed registration of EU defense firms for Vietnam’s December defense expo.
Human Rights Watch associate Patricia Gossman warned repression could affect Vietnam’s political and trade relations with Europe.

Summary

Vietnam posts trade surplus

The EU goods trade deficit with Vietnam reached €51.7 billion in 2025, up from €24 billion in 2019.
EU exports to Vietnam slipped 1% to €12.2 billion in 2025.
Belgium hosted 104 Vietnamese investment projects worth over $1.1 billion by end-2025.
Vietnam’s first-eight-months 2026 trade surplus with the EU hit $36.06 billion, a 25.3% rise year-on-year.
EU firms cite the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Deforestation Regulation as hurdles for Vietnamese suppliers.

History

Historical Context

Since the 1995 EU-Vietnam Association Agreement lifted Vietnamese exports from $0.5 billion to $5 billion by 2005 and attracted €3.4 billion of EU investment by 2004, the pact sits within EU’s wider trade expansion, such as 2018 EU-Japan deal, and its 500-plus environmental directives. The framework now underpins President To Lam’s 2024 meeting with President Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa and Kaja Kallas on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

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To Lam advances partnership

President To Lam met EU leaders in Brussels to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa discussed expanding trade, investment and critical raw materials.
Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas confirmed registration of EU defense firms for Vietnam’s December defense expo.
Human Rights Watch associate Patricia Gossman warned repression could affect Vietnam’s political and trade relations with Europe.

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