Nearby markets typically involve simpler contracts and logistics, making them more accessible for exporter. HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam exports eight to nine million tonnes of rice annually, but shipments remain concentrated in markets with relatively high import tariffs while opportunities under free trade agreements (FTAs) offering duty-free access are underutilised, industry officials and businesses said. Việt Nam has signed around 20 FTAs, including 16 already in force, yet rice exports continue to be heavily directed towards nearby Southeast Asian markets. Ngô Chung Khanh, deputy director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Việt Nam ships large volumes of rice to the Philippines and Indonesia under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), despite tariffs of 35 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. FTAs typically reduce tariffs to zero per cent or around 5 per cent, but these two markets still maintain high duties, Khanh told ...