Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh: Identifying and specifying areas of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods

Scene of the conference on August 4. Photo: Q.H

That is the conclusion of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh at the online conference to summarize the work in the first six months of 2022 and the orientations for National Steering Committees 389 (at the conclusion No. 245/TB/VPCP of the Government Office).

Not decisive in leadership and direction

The conclusion stated that, on August 4, 2022, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Director of the National Steering Committees 389, chaired an online conference to review the work of the first six months of 2022 and the orientations and key tasks for the National Steering Committee 389.

After listening to the Standing Office of National Steering Committees 389 report on the results of the first six months of 2022 as the opinions of the conference participants, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh requested Steering Committees 389 of ministries, sectors and localities to focus on performing a number of key tasks.

According to the analysis of national steering committees 389, the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting has obtained encouraging results.

However, it has not met the practical requirements. The situation of counterfeit goods, smuggled goods, and goods of unknown origin is still publicly sold in many places and has increased sharply in the online environment; the situation of evasion of import duty and corporate income tax through making an incorrect declaration of price, quantity and transfer pricing is still complicated; the situation of taking advantage of risk management policies to smuggle and transport banned goods, counterfeit goods, and infringing upon intellectual property has been warned many times, but does still not have effective measures for prevention and handling. Many directives of the Steering Committee have not been seriously implemented by agencies.

The reason for the shortcomings and limitations mentioned above is that the heads of the Party committees, some local governments, and the heads of some agencies and units have not been drastic in giving direction; some civil servants lack a sense of responsibility and are weak in expertise and professionalism. They have a low sense of law compliance and even there is a case of "protection" for acts of law violations.

In addition, the policy mechanism has inadequacies, creating loopholes for the subjects to take advantage and causing difficulties for the competent forces; the coordination between competent forces is not really effective, and synergy has not been promoted, especially in information sharing and cargo supervision.

Preventing and promptly handling acts of smuggling

In the last months of 2022, the economy is likely to recover faster. Besides favorable opportunities, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and natural disasters continue to be complex; new trends in shifting investment and trade, together with rapid changes in business models, production and consumption methods, etc. are big challenges in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, requiring this work to be innovative, drastic, and more effective.

Facing that situation, National Steering Committee 389 requested the Steering Committee 389 of ministries, sectors and localities to continue to implement drastically, synchronously and effectively tasks and solutions to combat smuggling and trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the new situation.

Accordingly, implementing the Directives and Resolutions of the Party in order to fight, prevent and reverse the deterioration of political ideology, morality and lifestyle; determining that the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting is an important and regular political task of all levels and sectors. There is no forbidden zone in this work.

At the same time, it is necessary to prevent and combat corruption, negativity, smuggling and trade fraud in the competent forces (Police, Customs, Market Surveillance, Border Guard, Coast Guard, Tax), and strictly handle groups and individuals that violate the law.

Furthermore, actively assessing the current situation, identifying and specifying the outstanding issues in terms of subjects, routes, locations, key areas, commodities, new methods and tricks on smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in order to promptly advise and develop plans for inspection, investigation and verification.

Additionally, gathering the forces, vehicles to hit the right target, instigators, gangs, and gathering locations for general deterrence and prevention. Strictly handling acts of taking advantage of natural disasters, epidemics, supply chain disruptions, local shortages of goods for speculation, unreasonable price increases, profiteering, and deceiving consumers.

Moreover, directing competent forces to promote the application of science and technology in anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting; strengthen coordination in information connection and sharing with the new situation; widely publicize phone numbers, emails and hotlines of the National Steering Committee 389 and the Steering Committee 389 at all levels and of competent forces, ensuring timely collection and handling of information from the public in accordance with the Regulation of the National Steering Committee 389.

Performing professional work to ensure timely detection and handling of acts of smuggling, trade fraud, production and trading of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods of unknown origin, especially pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs, medicinal materials, petroleum, minerals, sugar, tobacco, fertilizers, pesticides; share information, coordinate forces to closely supervise shipments of border-crossing, porting, temporary import for re-export, especially the losses of consumer goods, groceries, and goods at risk of contraband.

Promote and effectively implement the Plan to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in e-commerce activities, strengthen inspection and supervision of the observance of legal regulations by traders and organizations and individuals participating in e-commerce activities in the territory of Vietnam, and promptly detect and handle those who take advantage of e-commerce activities to commit acts of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the press agencies to coordinate with competent forces to promptly and accurately report the situation and results of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; negative manifestations, and inadequacies in the operation of competent agencies.

At the same time, disseminating policies and laws, encouraging people not to participate, abetting acts of smuggling, trade fraud and trading in counterfeit goods; condemning the acts of taking advantage of the pandemic to speculate and raise the price of goods unreasonably.

The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 389 chaired and coordinated with competent forces to urgently finalize the draft plan on anti-smuggling by air and by road; propose to amend the inadequate content and form; proactively grasp the situation, monitor and urge the competent forces in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods as well as the implementation of the directives of Director of the 389 Committee.