With the consent of the trade committee, the European Parliament is set to vote on the trade deal and the investment protection agreement at its February session in Strasbourg.

The agreement, concluded after six years of negotiations, has been dubbed “the most ambitious” FTA the EU has ever reached with a developing country.

The EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has an endorsement of 401 out of 633 members of the European Parliament.

A majority of support from members of the EP in a voting for EVFTA and EVIPA ratification showed the EU’s confidence in the country’s reform process, said the head EU envoy to Vietnam.

This is despite the fact that Vietnam’s textile and garment industry is expected to benefit the most from the deal.