Local STTA Rules of Origin Expert (focused on origin verification in cyberspace)

Vietnam Digital Trade

SCOPE OF WORK

Local STTA Rules of Origin Expert (focused on origin verification in cyberspace)

Date: XXX March 2024

Position: Local STTA Rules of Origin Expert (focused on origin verification in cyberspace)

Reports to: USAID Vietnam Digital Trade (VDT) Technical Team

Location: Hanoi or other provinces in Vietnam (if required)

Eligibility: Vietnamese Nationals

LOE: (STTA) 25 days

Period of Performance: April – December 2024

International Development Group LLC is an international development consulting firm that assists donors, governments, and the private sector to create and take advantage of opportunities for sustainable, broad-based economic development and poverty reduction. IDG provides entrepreneurs and policymakers with the practical tools needed to achieve real and measurable impact for their communities and countries. IDG assistance programs aim to build the capacity, skills, and knowledge of local individuals and institutions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, fostering synergies between local knowledge and international experience. 

Project Background

The VDT is a two-year activity (2023-2025) addressing regulatory gaps and promoting private sector engagement in the rapidly growing digital economy. USAID VDT Activity supports the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s implementation of frameworks that facilitate digital trade, with an emphasis on supporting MOIT in holding public-private dialogues to ensure implementation is done in consultation with the private sector. Regulations that are responsive to private sector needs remove bottlenecks in trade faced by enterprises and increase regulatory transparency, helping to shape an e-commerce sector where enterprises of all sizes can benefit. The Activity encourages the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in digital trade by introducing new business models and other best practices, such as traceability of goods, as well as facilitating cross-border connections between enterprises via MOIT’s digital trade promotion platform.

Activity Background

For several consecutive years, the United States has maintained its position as Vietnam's foremost trading partner and largest export market, with exports to this destination constituting nearly 30% of Vietnam's total export turnover. According to data from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam's export turnover to the United States is projected to reach approximately $97 billion USD in 2023. Given the substantial volume of exports to the United States, coupled with the notable growth in certain product categories, particularly those subject to high tariffs from other nations such as China, there has been a discernible uptick in the investigation of anti-trade tax evasion measures by the US Department of Commerce, as well as inquiries into origin fraud by US Customs over the past three years. Recent investigations have encompassed various items, including steel products, solar batteries, wooden cabinets, staples, and steel wire.

This trend underscores the heightened risk of trade fraud in the origin of goods amidst escalating trade conflicts between nations, adversely impacting compliant Vietnamese businesses, consumers, and overall international trade relations with key partners like the United States.

To safeguard the reputation of Vietnamese goods in the global market, ensure the legality of domestic production, and enhance businesses' and industry associations' awareness of the risks associated with origin fraud, Vietnam must take proactive measures. This involves empowering businesses to actively engage with and adhere to standards and regulations pertaining to goods origin in the US market.

To address this challenge, the MOIT Agency of Foreign Trade (AFT) asked the VDT to support the following initiatives:

• Research and review the current status of ROO implementation on goods exported to the US;
• Provide detailed guidelines for checking and verifying the origin of goods, especially goods produced from imported material;
• Produce guidelines for the declaration of trader profiles, certificates of origin (C/O), and supporting documents for each consignment, which will facilitate authorized economic operators (AEO);
• Draft a report summarizing the methodology for origin verification in cyberspace. This report will describe how the competent authority of Vietnam and the customs authorities of trading partner countries can access the data system at different levels to obtain the necessary information to conduct the verification of the C/O.

The above tasks completed will result in:

• Developing a handbook (in FY1);
• Organizing a workshop to present findings from the study and recommendations (in FY2); and
• Organizing a training (in FY2).

To conduct this activity, the VDT will mobilize two local experts and one international expert to implement the following tasks:

• Local STTA Rules of Origin Expert (Lead) (Local Expert 1): The Local Expert 1 will take lead in designing and developing the activity and in charge of tasks 1, 2 and 3 as described above. The Local Expert 1 will also cooperate with Local Expert 2 and International Expert to implement tasks 5, 6 and 7.
• Local STTA Rules of Origin Expert (focused on origin verification in cyberspace) (Local Expert 2) (this SOW): The Local Expert 2 will be in charge of task 4 and will also cooperate with Local Expert 1 and International Expert to implement tasks 5, 6 and 7.
• International STTA Rules of Origin Expert. The International Expert will be in charge of providing US perspectives in preventing origin frauds for goods exported to the US, especially third-country goods counterfeiting as Vietnamese goods for export to the US.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities:

• Conduct a report summarizing the methodology for origin verification in cyberspace. This report will describe how the competent authority of Vietnam and the customs authorities of trading partner countries can access the data system at different levels to obtain the necessary information to conduct the verification of the C/O.
• Provide contributions to the Handbook led by Local Expert 1with part on methodology for origin verification in cyberspace.
• Active participate and present key findings at the workshop organized by MOIT and VDT, focused on topic of origin verification in cyberspace.
• Provide training organized by MOIT and VDT, focused on topic of origin verification in cyberspace.
• Provide comments on final report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned developed by Local Expert 1.

Deliverables

• Report summarizing the methodology for origin verification in cyberspace. This report will describe how the competent authority of Vietnam and the customs authorities of trading partner countries can access the data system at different levels to obtain the necessary information to conduct the verification of the C/O.
• Contributions to the Handbook led by Local Expert 1with part on methodology for origin verification in cyberspace.
• Participation and presentation on key findings at the workshop organized by MOIT and VDT, focused on topic of origin verification in cyberspace.
• Participation and presentation at the training organized by MOIT and VDT, focused on topic of origin verification in cyberspace.
• Comments on final report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned developed by Local Expert 1.

Qualifications

• Master's degrees or higher in trade policy, international trade, international economics, international trade law, customs administration, business administration or similar field;
• Minimum 8 years of experience in providing consultancy in international trade-related topics, and in particular on rules of origin;
• Prior involvement in projects involving rules of origin analysis
• Strong written, and oral English and Vietnamese.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted to [email protected] no later than March 22, 2024.