How Non-voting Depositary Receipt Work?

Decree No. 60/2015/ND-CP (Decree 60) amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 58/2012/ND-CP issued by the Government on May 26th, 2015 has lifted foreign ownership limit of the public enterprises (with conditions) and permitted enterprises operating in all sectors and areas without restriction on foreign ownership to self-set out limits of foreign ownership.

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Although the Government has been facilitating foreign investor investing in the Vietnam stock market as well as Vietnam enterprises whom raise capital, the foreign investors still faced a number of challenges. The Decree 60 has taken effect since September 1st, 2015, but most public companies did not lift their foreign ownership limit over 51%. One of the reasons is that, the enterprises with 51% foreign ownership shall meet the statutory conditions and therefore have to follow the investment procedures applicable to foreign investors in accordance with the Law on Investment, Law on Securities and other guiding legislations. Having said that, Vietnam enterprises with over 51% foreign ownership shall be treated as foreign investor. These requirements shall significantly impact on business plans and procedures that an enterprise must comply and restrict them from doing business in some sectors. Accordingly, the daily purchase and sale of shares by foreign investors around the threshold of 51% of the charter capital makes it difficult to determine the legal status of an enterprise.

In order to facilitate the attraction of foreign capital inflows, the Government has been reviewing acceptance of non-voting depositary receipt (NVDR). The promulgation of the Enterprise Law 2020 effective from January 1st, 2021, initially recognized NVDR. Ordinary shares used as underlying assets to issue NVDR are called as underlying ordinary shares. Non-voting depository receipts have interest and obligations proportional to the underlying ordinary shares, excepting for voting rights. NVDR is a negotiable financial instrument issued by a third party which is a subsidiary of the Stock Exchange (Issuing Organization). The Issuing Organization will then hand over to investors all financial benefits attached stocks such as dividends, rights offering. This is a solution from other country that helps foreign investors to invest in public enterprises, even they such enterprises reached limit boundary of foreign ownership. NVDR can be converted into ordinary shares in case the public company has not yet reached foreign ownership limit.

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What Are Tax Obligations of a Representative Office in Vietnam?

Vietnam-based representative office of a foreign trader means a dependent unit of the foreign trader, which is established under the provisions of Vietnamese law to conduct market survey and a number of commercial promotion activities permitted by Vietnamese law.

Representative office of foreign trader in Vietnam has the rights and obligations in accordance with the law of Vietnam. Foreign trader is responsible before the law of Vietnam for all operations of its representative office in Vietnam.

Accordingly, representative office in Vietnam is not allowed to conduct business activities, nor carry out other activities for profit-generating purposes. The representative office in Vietnam only performs the activities for the right purposes, scope and duration specified in the certificate to establish the representative office. Besides, the representative office in Vietnam has the right to rent the head office, rent and buy the facilities and materials necessary for the operation of the representative office; to recruit Vietnamese and foreign employees to work at the representative office in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law; to use an account in foreign currency, in Vietnam dong of foreign currency origin opened by a foreign trader at a bank licensed to operate in Vietnam and only use this account for the operation of the representative office; to have a seal bearing the name of the representative office according to the provisions of Vietnamese law. Representative office in Vietnam can sign contracts, perform transactions with partners when authorized by the enterprise.

Hence, due to the limited scope of activities, the tax liability of a foreign representative office in Vietnam is narrower than that of an enterprise.  As the representative office does not produce or trade in goods and services, it is not required to pay license fees as prescribed. Representative office of foreign trader in Vietnam is dependent unit of foreign trader, established to investigate the market and carry out some trade promotion activities permitted by Vietnamese law, does not carry out production and business activities, so it is not required to pay license fees.

The fact that the representative office has the right to recruit Vietnamese or foreign employees to work at the office is the basis for arising personal income tax obligation. At the same time, representative office of foreign organization is subject to personal income tax registration. For employees working at foreign representative office in Vietnam, the taxable incomes are based on salaries and wages. Declaring, withholding, paying taxes and settling personal income tax of employees working at foreign representative office is the responsibility of such representative office.

ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam with offices in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City could help client to set up representative office in Vietnam and advise on the compliance on regular basis.

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Whom is Exempted from Work Permit Since 2021?

On December 30, 2020, the Government issued Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam and recruiting and managing Vietnamese employees to work for the foreign employers in Vietnam.

 

In which, foreign workers in Vietnam are not required to be granted work permits include:

The employee is the owner or capital contributor of a limited liability company with a capital contribution of at least 3 billion VND; Chairman of the Board of Directors or a member of the Board of Directors of a joint stock company with a capital contribution of at least 3 billion VND;

Intra-corporate transferees within 11 service sectors in Vietnam’s service commitment schedule with the World Trade Organization, including: business services, communication services, construction services, distribution services, educational services, environmental services, financial services, health services, tourism services, recreational and cultural services, and transport services;

The person responsible for establishing a commercial presence;

The employee enters Vietnam to work as manager, executive, expert or technical worker for a working time of less than 30 days and not more than 3 times a year;

The employee who enters Vietnam for a period of less than 03 months to offer services;

The employee enters Vietnam for a period of less than 03 months to handle complicated incidents, technical or technological situations that affect or risk affecting production and business that Vietnamese experts and the foreign experts currently in Vietnam cannot handle it;

Foreign lawyer who has been granted a law practice license in Vietnam in accordance with the Law on Lawyers; The employee is licensed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate information and press in Vietnam in accordance with the law; The person certified by the Ministry of Education and Training to enter Vietnam for teaching and researching;

The employee enters Vietnam to provide professional and engineering consulting services or perform other tasks intended for research, formulation, appraisal, supervision, evaluation, management and execution of programs and projects using official development assistance (ODA) in accordance with regulations or agreement in international treaties on ODA signed between the competent authorities of Vietnam and foreign countries;

The employee is sent to Vietnam by competent foreign agency or organization to teach and research at international schools under the management of foreign diplomatic missions or the United Nations; establishment and organization established under the agreement which Vietnam has signed and acceded to;

The employee enters Vietnam to implement an international agreement to which a central or provincial authority is a signatory as per the law;

Person obtains an official passport to work for a regulatory agency, political organization, or socio-political organization;

Relatives of members of foreign representative missions in Vietnam;

In cases where the provisions of an international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory;

Head of representative office, project or is responsible for the activities of international organizations, foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam;

The employee is a volunteer;

The student studies at a foreign school or training institution which has a probation agreement with an agency, organization or enterprise in Vietnam; or a probationer or apprentice on a Vietnam sea-going ship;

The employee is a foreigner who marries a Vietnamese and lives in the territory of Vietnam.

This Decree takes effect from February 15, 2021.

ANT Lawyers is a law firm in Vietnam located in the business centers of Hanoi, Danang, Ho Chi Minh city. We provide convenient access to our clients. Please contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529

 

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TRAV Receiving Review Application of Anti-Dumping Measures for Aluminum Products under AD05

On July 27th, 2020, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) – Ministry of Industry and Trade notified on receiving the dossier on the first review of anti–dumping measures to some of the aluminum products originated from People’s Republic of China imported into Vietnam.

Specifically, on September 28th 2019, Minister of Industry and Trade issued the Decision 2942/QD-BCT on imposing the official decision to some of the aluminum product soriginated from People’s Republic of China under case AD05.

According to Article 82.1.a Law on foreign management 2014 and Decree No. 10/2018/ND-CP, the interested parties in accordance with Article 74 have the rights to submit the review dossiers with the scope including but not limited to the following contents:

-The product scope subject to anti-dumping measures;

-The anti-dumping margin imposing to some specific foreign enterprises;

-The damage of local industry.

After finishing the reviewing period, based on the investigating result, TRAV will propose Minister of Industry and Trade one of the following options:

-Continue to impose the anti-dumping measure in accordance with the current law; and/or

-Adjust the anti-dumping measure in accordance with the reviewing result; or

-Bring the anti-dumping measure to an end.

The performing of the procedures related to the reviewing period will not affect to the effective anti-dumping measures imposed currently.

The reviewing dossiers must be filed sufficiently and timely to TRAV before 5 p.m on September 28 2020 (Hanoi time).

Within 30 days after receiving the investigation questionnaires, the interested parties must provide written replies to all questions in the questionnaire. In case of necessity or there are written requests for extension with reasonable reasons from the interested parties, the investigating authority may extend the time limit but not more than 30 days.

Please be informed that the time limit for the anti-dumping measures imposition investigation shall be within 12 months from the day on which the decision on investigation is issued, with a possible extension up to 6 months if necessary. Interested parties could authorise law firm in Vietnam with international trade and anti-dumping specialization to respond to authorities in Vietnam.

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What are the Process of Investigation of Imposing Trade Remedies?

Trade remedies are trade policy tool that allow governments to take remedial action against imports which are causing or threatening to cause material injury to a domestic industry. This is considered as a tool for maintaining the international trade order in a way of fairness and sound for countries when participating in free trade agreements. As Vietnam has entered a number of important free trade agreements, especially recent EU Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, it is important to understand the process of investigation of imposing trade remedies and how an international trade law firm could help representing clients in taking part in the procedures including anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguarding investigation of state authorities.

 

How a trade remedy case is processed?

Firstly, an organizations or individual representing a domestic industry may submit a request for applying the measure if it is found that the domestic industry is injured caused by dumping on imports, import subsidies or a surge in imports.

Secondly, after having the notification of lawful dossiers from Investigating authority, Minister of Industry and Trade would base on the proposal of Investigating authority to make decision of whether to start the investigation or not.

Thirdly, in the event of Minister of Industry and Trade decides to proceed the case, Investigating authority will issue the Questionnaire within 15 days from the date of issuing the investigating decision. However, in some cases, before sending the Questionnaire to parties, Investigating authority may send the quantity and value Questionnaire to select the sample to limit the scope of investigation.

The investigation to impose the anti-dumping measure, countervailing measure is within 12 months from the date of having the investigating decision, this duration may be extended but the total of the case does not exceed 18 months. However, the investigation period of imposing safeguard measure must be completed within 9 months, this duration may be extended but the total of the case does not exceed 12 months.

During the investigation period, Investigating authority will give an opportunity to interested parties for the consultation, specifically: (i) when having the consultation request from interested parties (ii) Before the final determination of investigation is disclosed, the investigating authority can organize the public consultation in manner that interested parties can present information and opinion related to the case.

However, Minister of Industry and Trade shall decide to terminate the investigation in the following cases:

-The applicant voluntarily withdraws the application;

-The preliminary determination of the investigating authority shows that there is no injury or threat of injury to the domestic industry or material retardation of establishment of the domestic industry;

-The final determination of the investigating authority obtains one of the following contents:

-The product under consideration imported to Vietnam is not dumped, subsidized or imported excessively;

There is no injury to the domestic industry;

There is no objective evidence of the existence of a causal link between the dumping on imports, import subsidies and the surge of imports and the injury or threat of injury to domestic industry or the material retardation of the establishment of the domestic industry;

The investigating authority reaches an agreement with the competent authority of the country which is accused of granting subsidies to its products imported to Vietnam on removing the abovementioned subsidies.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our international trade attorney at Hanoi Office and Ho Chi Minh City of ANT Lawyers could be of help.

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Anti-dumping Law: The Basic Concepts

1. What is dumping?

In international trade, dumping is a phenomenon occurs when a commodity is exported at a price lower than the selling price of that item in the domestic market of the exporting country. Therefore, it is simple to understand that if the export price of a commodity is lower than its domestic prices, the product may be considered to be dumped. 

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2. Why is dumping?

There are many causes of dumping in international trade. In fact, there are many cases that seller deliberately dumping in order to achieve certain benefits such as: Dumping to eliminate competitors in the import market to become monopoly and gain market share; Selling at low price to acquire foreign currency… Sometimes, the dumping is reluctant because the manufacturer and exporter cannot sell product, the production is stalled then the long-term storage products could be corrupted… Hence, they have to sell off to recover capital.

In international trade, the anti-dumping tax may be imposed without regarding to the reason why the manufacturers dumping. Dumped into foreign markets is often perceived as a negative phenomenon because it reduces the competitiveness of prices and the market share of domestic products of importing countries.

However, dumping can have positive impacts on the economy: consumers benefit from low price goods; if dumped goods are inputs of other manufacturing sector then the low raw material prices can make certain growth of that industry… Therefore, not all acts of dumping will be applying the anti-dumping measures.

As regulated by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the anti-dumping measures can only be applied in certain circumstances and must meet certain conditions. Specifically, the anti-dumping measures are applied only when the following three conditions are met: The imported goods are dumped; the manufacturing sector of similar products of the importing countries is significantly affected; there is a causal relationship between the dumping of imports goods and losses mentioned above

3. The anti-dumping tax?

The anti-dumping tax is the additional taxes besides the normal import tax, which is imposed on foreign products that are dumped into the importing country. This type of tax is to prevent dumping and eliminate the damages caused by the dumping of imported goods. In fact, the anti-dumping tax is used in many countries as a form of “legal protection” for its domestic production. In order to prevent the abuse of this measure, the WTO member countries have together agreed on the provisions required to comply regarding the investigation and imposition of anti-dumping tax, concentrated in an Agreement of the WTO on anti-dumping, which is the ADA Agreement.

ANT Lawyers in a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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Receipt of Application for Anti-dumping Measures on Welding Materials From China, Thailand and Malaysia

On January 21th, 2021, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (Investigating Authority) received Dossier from a company which is the representative of the domestic manufacturing (Requesting Party) requesting for the application of the anti-dumping measures on some types of welding materials originating from People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Thailand and Malaysia.

On February 01st, 2021, Investigating Authority confirmed that Dossier was complete, valid according to regulations of law on trade remedies.

 

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Within 45 days of the receipt of a complete, valid Dossier, the Investigating Authority shall examine the Dossier to submit to the Minister of Industry and Trade for consideration for conducting an investigation.

Contents of Dossier examination include: (i) Determine qualification of the legal representative of the domestic manufacturing of organization, individual that submitted the Dossier according to regulation of Law on Foreign Trade Management; (ii) Determine evidence on the dumping of imported goods that caused or threatened to cause significant injury to a domestic manufacturing or significantly prevent the formation of a domestic manufacturing.

Our international trade and competition lawyers in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers will always follow the development from authorities to provide update to our clients.

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Process of Anti-dumping Review in Vietnam

After 12 month from the day on which the decision on imposition of anti-dumping measures is issued, the Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade may decide to review anti-dumping measures at the request of one or multiple interested parties and evidence provided by them.

The time limit for the review is 06 months from the day on which the decision on review is issued, with a possible extension up to 3 months if necessarProcess of Anti-dumping Review in Vietnam 

After 12 month from the day on which the decision on imposition of anti-dumping measures is issued, the Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade may decide to review anti-dumping measures at the request of one or multiple interested parties and evidence provided by them.

Within 60 days before the end of one year from the date of issuance of the decision on the imposition of official anti-dumping measures, the related parties may submit the application dossiers for review of anti-dumping measures.

1. Subject of the application:

The following related parties shall have right to submit the application for review of the anti-dumping measures imposition:

-Domestic producers;

-Foreign producers and exporters may submit dossiers for review of the imposition of official anti-dumping measures against themselves;

-Importers of goods subject to anti-dumping measures;

-Governments of foreign producers and exporters which may submit dossiers for review of the imposition of official anti-dumping measures of such foreign producers and exporters.

2. Contents of the application

Contents of the review at the request of related parties

-The dumping margin, the level of subsidy of one, some or all of the foreign producers and exporters;

-Commitments to eliminate dumping and subsidies of one, some or all of the foreign producers and exporters who commit;

-Damages of the domestic industry and the causal relationship between the dumping on goods/ good subsidies of relevant foreign producers and exporters and the damage to domestic industry;

-Scope of imposition of anti-dumping measure and countervailing measure.

ANT Lawyers in a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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Mar 2020 Color steel sheet product importing into Vietnam Update on Cases SG05 and AD04

Relates to two cases which are application safeguard measure and applicationanti-dumping (AD) measure with respective case number of SG05 and AD04 which our anti competition lawyers at international trade practice of ANT Lawyers are following up.

Regarding application safeguard measure with case number of SG05, on May 31st, 2017, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated Decision 1931/QD-BCT on application safeguard measure on color steel sheet product importing into Vietnam from many different countries/ territories. 

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On Sep 11th, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated 03 Decision on exemption from application safeguard measure and application AD measure with total amount of 16.294,9 tons.

Pursuant to regulation of Circular 06/2018/TT-BCT, on Oct 07th, 2019, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) posted a notice to receive the dossier requesting for exemption from application safeguard measure on high-quality color steel sheet product 2020.

On Dec 30st, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated 18 Decision on exemption from application safeguard measure and application AD measure with total exempted amount of 82.019,7 tons for 2020.

Regarding application AD measure with case number of AD04, on Aug 02nd, 2018, Ministry of Industry and Trade received dossier requesting to investigate on imposition AD measure on some flat-rolled alloy or non-alloy steel products, painted with varnish or coated with other types originating from People's Republic of China and Republic of Korea.

On Oct 15th, 2018, Minister of Industry and Trade promulgated Decision no. 3877/ QD-BCT on investigating on imposition AD measure for some steel product mentioned above.

On Jun 18th, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated Decision no. 1711/QD-BCT on application provisional AD measure on some color coated steel (commonly known as color steel sheet) originating from China and Korea. Accordingly, the rate of provisional AD duty imposed on enterprises importing color coated steel of China is from 3,45% to 34,27% and of Korea is from 4,48% to 19,25% (specific rate is shown in attached Decision).

After nearly 8 months of initial investigation and complying with regulations of World Organization Trade, Law on foreign trade management and relevant regulations, Ministry of Industry and Trade has cooperated with relevant units to consider and carefully evaluate the impacts of AD activities of imported goods on operation in domestic manufacturing, dumping level of manufacturing, exporting enterprises of China and Korea as well as consider, calculate impacts on manufacturing and consumers of color coated steel product.

The results show that safeguard measures in the form of tariff quotas are being applied, but there are signs of dumping with a high margin from the quantity of imported goods within the quota, from 3,45% to 34,27% and this will continue to threaten and cause considerable damage to domestic color coated steel manufacturing.

Dumping activities mentioned above continues to cause considerable pressure on performance indicator of domestic manufacturing, shown in criteria such as: manufacturing quantity, sales volume, revenue, profit, market share, inventory which fluctuate during the investigation period, especially in the period of the last 7 months of 2018 until now, these indicators show the clear downtrend: many domestic enterprises was at a loss, many production line must stop working and large amount of labor had to quit their job.

When deciding to apply provisional AD measure, Ministry of Industry and Trade considered relevant parties and relevant state authorities’ opinions as well as based on practice of many other member states of WTO. Accordingly, goods imported within the quota of safeguard measures shall be imposed provisional AD duty. Regarding goods imported outside the quota, comparation between provisional AD duty and outside quotas safeguard duty needs to be carried out and higher duty shall be imposed. This application is to eliminate status of double imposition on importers.

Besides, special color coated steel product which domestic manufacturing has not produced yet such as PCM product, VCM used to manufacture refrigeration engineering and electronic appliances, PVDP products used for thermal power plants, and other special products.... These are exempted from application scope of provisional AD measure. Under regulation, imported material to manufacture exported goods shall not be applied AD measure.

The rate of provisional AD duty fluctuating from 3,45% to 34,27% and imposing on imported goods from China and Korea were issued in accordance with the regulations of World Organization Trade, Vietnamese laws and reflected true dumping activities of foreign manufacturer, exporter. Foreign manufacturer, exporter with correct product, quality and price being close to market rules are determined low dumping margin. Meanwhile, the low-quality floating dumping goods shall be prevented by higher provisional AD duty.

On Sep 11th, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated 03 Decision on exemption from application safeguard measure and application AD measure with total amount of 16.294,9 tons.

On Oct 24th, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated Decision no. 3198/QD-BCT on imposition of AD duty on color steel sheet originating from China and Korea.

On Nov 07th, 2019 TRAV posted a notice to receive the dossier requesting for exemption from application AD measure on high-quality color steel sheet 2020.

On Dec 30th, 2019, Ministry of Industry and Trade promulgated 18 Decision on exemption from application safeguard measure and application AD measure with total exempted amount of 82.019,7 tons for 2020.

On Mar 10th, 2020, Ministry of Industry and Trade posted a notice to receive and guide the submission of the Dossier requesting for exemption from application AD measure and safeguard measure. Enterprise shall submit the Dossier requesting for exemption at public service Portal by website  https://dichvucong.moit.gov.vn or send to Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam before 5pm on April 15th, 2020. It should be noted that enterprises which were exempted for 2020 shall not submit the Dossier requesting for exemption in 2020 according to this notice. If the amount of exemption is going to end, above enterprises shall submit the Dossier supplementing for exemption according to Article 16.4 of Circular 37/2019/TT-BCT.

Our international trade lawyers in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers will continue to follow up with development and update client.

 

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How to Distinguish between Deposit and Advance Payment

In commercial transactions, it is very common for one party to give the other party an amount of money before the contract being performed. Should this amount be considered as deposit or advance payment?

 

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Deposit is one of security measures for the performance of contract obligations. According to regulation of Civil Code 2015, deposit is an act whereby one party (hereinafter referred to as the depositor) gives to other party (hereinafter referred to as the depositary) a sum of money or precious metals, gemstones or other valuable things (hereinafter referred to as the deposited property) for a period of time as security for the entering into or performance of a contract.

Upon a contract being entered into or performed, any deposited property shall be returned to the depositor, or deducted from the amount of payment obligation. If the depositor refuses to enter into or perform the contract, the deposited property shall belong to the depositary. In case the depositary refuses to enter into or perform the contract, the depositary must return the deposited property and pay an amount equivalent to the value of the deposited property to the depositor, unless otherwise agreed.

It can be seen that the purpose of deposit is to ensure the entering into or performance of a contract. Due to the fact that its nature is a security measure for the performance of contract obligations, sanction is set in regulation of deposit in case one party refuses to perform the agreement.

In practice, the advance payment can be understood that the obligor pays the obligee a sum of money in advance and this amount is regarded as in-advance performance of a payment obligation. As the nature of the advance is not a security measure for the performance of contract obligations, there is no fine rising from the advance if one party refuses to perform the agreement. Further, when a contracting party gives to the other party a sum of money, which is not clearly identified by the parties as a deposit or an advance, such amount shall be considered an advance payment.

It is important to distinguish the difference between deposit and advance payment to avoid potential disputes in performance the contract or consult with dispute resolution lawyers in Vietnam at early stage of the dispute for proper actions.

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