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4.18. According to the latest notification to the WTO concerning domestic support for agriculture, among programmes notified as exempt from reduction commitments under Annex 2 to the Agreement on Agriculture (Green Box) (VND 33.3 trillion in 2013), most support was continued to be accorded for infrastructure, regional assistance, and relief from natural disasters. (...)

4.19. The general objectives for agricultural development are set out in the Master Plan of Production Development of Agriculture to 2020, Vision to 2030. (...). In it, objectives for agricultural development are to: develop modern, sustainable, and comprehensive agriculture by promoting comparative advantages; apply science and technology to increase productivity, quality, efficiency, and high competitiveness, and to ensure national food security, in both the short and long terms, while meeting diverse domestic and export demands; and improve the efficiency of land, water, labour, and capital use.

4.20. On 10 June 2013, Prime Minister's Decision No. 899/QD-TTg (approving the project titled "Restructuring the agricultural industry towards increasing added value and sustainable development") was issued. The Decision aims to, inter alia: (...) (iii) enhance natural resource management, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and negative impacts on the environment, utilize environmental benefits, raise capacity for risk management, and enhance disaster preparedness. (...).

4.28. The principal pieces of legislation on fisheries are the Law on Fisheries (...) , and Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP (...) , which repealed a number of earlier decrees on fisheries. The provisions of the Law include: (i) planning regarding the protection and exploitation of aquatic resources, and the establishment of protected marine areas; (...) (iii) the breeding, raising, artificial propagation, import, and export of aquatic species prescribed in the appendices to the CITES; (...) (v) the combat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. (...) The Law introduced sanctions against IUU fishing. It also established a system for the Government to grant management rights to community organizations regarding the protection of aquatic resources. (...) According to the authorities, compared with the previous regime under the 2003 Law on Fisheries, the new Law, inter alia: (...) (iv) details IUU fishing activities and stipulates strict punishments compared with administrative penalties for violations in other fields.

4.31. In accordance with the Law on Fisheries, Viet Nam took concrete steps in the fight against IUU fishing. A national committee was established in May 2019 to coordinate efforts by central agencies and local authorities to combat IUU fishing. Coastal towns and provinces established their own anti-IUU units to supervise fishing activities. Fishing boats using seaports must file reports on their cargoes, origin of product, and ships' logs. The authorities state that Viet Nam is improving its legal framework, and trackers are installed on boats to monitor seafood product origin and enforce maritime law. According to the authorities, the Law and a number of government decisions and guidelines allow agencies and localities to combat IUU effectively. Viet Nam also established communications channels with neighbouring countries to spot and address IUU violations. (...)

4.34. As notified to the WTO, the Fisheries Development Policies provide support measures to the sector, such as credits for new vessels, subsidized accident insurance, and tax exemptions between 2015 and 2018. The Policies are based on, (...) (iv) maintaining and developing traditional fisheries in a sustainable manner; (...) and (vi) supporting the conversion of fishing gear, to eliminate the use of destructive gear. (...).

4.35. Viet Nam is a member of several international and regional intergovernmental organizations involved in fisheries and aquaculture (...). It is also a cooperating non member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to improve the monitoring and management of the tuna catches in Viet Nam and to contribute to reducing IUU fishing.

4.40. (...) In 2011, Viet Nam adopted the Mineral Resources Strategy to 2020, Vision to 2030, and an action plan for the strategic orientation of mineral resources and their exploitation. The Strategy provides for, inter alia: (i) non renewable mineral resources to be managed, protected, exploited, and used rationally; (...) (v) international cooperation to be utilized to access scientific knowledge and environmentally friendly technologies. (...).

4.41. The MNRE oversees the mining sector, and coordinates with other ministries in line with the Strategy. People's Committees at all local levels also oversee mining activities within their jurisdictions. All mining projects must be submitted for approval to the Appraisal Council, consisting of the MOIT, the Ministry of Construction, and the relevant provincial or municipal People's Committee. Projects involving advanced and environmentally friendly techniques are strongly encouraged; (...).

4.49. (...)Power shortages remain a challenge for the development of the country, and the supply of hydroelectric generation is at its lowest level due to a severe heatwave and scanty rainfall in 2019. [42] In 2017, 36.1% of domestic energy production came from coal, with oil (25.3%), natural gas (10.0%), hydropower (9.8%), and biofuels and waste (18.8%) supplying the remainder. In 2017, final energy consumption was: (...) 21.2% biofuels and waste. (...)

[42] For instance, the water flow was at its lowest level in 30 years in the Da River Basin. In 2019, hydroenergy drastically diminished, by around 16.3 billion kWh in comparison to 2018(...).