河内：越南和四个欧盟以外的欧洲国家在河内于周日（10月18日）签署了自由贸易协定，旨在多元化其市场，因为美国关税正在扰乱全球商业。
HANOI: Vietnam and four European nations outside the European Union (EU) signed a free trade agreement in Hanoi on Sunday (Oct 18), seeking to diversify their markets as United States tariffs disrupt global commerce.
该协定由东南亚增长最快的经济体越南与欧洲自由贸易联盟（EFTA）签署，EFTA 包括冰岛、列支敦士登、挪威和瑞士，该协定取消或降低关税，包括对工业、鱼类和农产品进口的关税。
The deal, between Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, eliminates or reduces customs duties, including on imports of industrial, fish and agricultural products.
该协定在越南最高领导人陈国旺和EFTA政府代表在场的情况下，于首都河内签署。
The deal was signed in the capital in the presence of Vietnam's top leader To Lam and representatives of EFTA governments.
根据政府声明，越南表示该协定表明各方致力于“在全球经济持续波动的背景下，强化基于规则的贸易体制”。
Vietnam said the agreement showed the parties' resolve to "reinforce the rules-based trading system amid continued volatility in the global economy", according to a government statement.
政府还表示，该协定有望帮助越南“多元化其进出口市场”，并“更深入地融入全球价值链”。
It was also expected to help Vietnam "diversify its import and export markets" and "integrate more deeply into global value chains", the government said.
越南与EFTA于7月完成谈判，自由贸易谈判自2012年正式启动以来，时隔十余年方得以结束。
Vietnam and EFTA concluded negotiations in July, more than a decade after the free trade talks officially began in 2012.
各方于去年9月重启谈判，谈判自2018年以来一直处于停滞状态。
The parties relaunched negotiations in September last year, after they had stalled since 2018.
该协定是在特朗普总统领导下的美国全面贸易扰乱关税冲击之后达成的，这一举措使越南在美国出口商品上面临沉重的税负，尽管越南仍在与华盛顿进行持续谈判。
The agreement followed a global trade-disrupting tariff blitz by the US under President Donald Trump which has left Vietnam with a hefty tax on its US exports amid ongoing negotiations with Washington.
专家表示，新协定体现了各方共同倡议，旨在多元化商业关系并减少对主要贸易伙伴的依赖。
Experts say the new deal reflected a shared initiative to diversify commercial ties and reduce reliance on major trading partners.
“随着美国对欧洲国家的贸易压力日益加大，该协定是各方共同努力的结果，旨在将经济一体化转化为更大的战略自主权，并发展替代性商业关系，而非仅仅依赖其最大的贸易伙伴，”历史与政治学者杜丁 Lam Khang告诉法新社。
"As the US increasingly exerts trade pressure on European countries, the agreement is a joint effort to turn economic integration into greater strategic autonomy and to develop alternative commercial relationships rather than relying exclusively on their largest partners," history and politics scholar Do Dinh Lam Khang told AFP.
对于越南而言，与EFTA经济体的更紧密联系可能有助其实现向更高附加值活动转型的雄心，Khang补充道。
For Vietnam, closer ties with EFTA economies could support its ambition to move into higher-value-added activities, Khang added.
双方表示，该协议涵盖货物和服务贸易、知识产权、贸易救济和可持续发展等多个领域。
The agreement covers trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights, trade remedies and sustainable development, among other areas, both parties say.
根据该协会的数据，去年EFTA与越南之间的双边贸易额达48亿欧元（合54亿美元）。
Bilateral trade between the EFTA and Vietnam last year was valued at 4.8 billion euros (US$5.4 billion), according to the association.
去年，电气和机械设备、鱼类及医药产品是EFTA成员国对越南的主要出口商品。
Electrical and mechanical machinery, fish and pharmaceutical products were the EFTA nations' top exports to Vietnam last year.
机械、鞋类和服装是越南作为制造业中心对EFTA的主要出口商品。
Machinery, footwear and apparel were manufacturing hub Vietnam's major exports to the EFTA.
该协会的成立是为了与欧洲经济共同体相对应——欧洲经济共同体是欧盟的前身，而该协会的四个成员国与欧盟关系密切但尚未加入。
The association was created as a counterpart to the European Economic Community, precursor of the European Union which its four member states are close to but have not joined.