The UK has signed a Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam which came into force on 1 January 2021. A tiny IP element is included. The UK FTA essentially adopts the EU Vietnam FTA, which came into force 6 months earlier. So the UK FTA adopts the same IP provisions set out in the in the EU Vietnam FTA IP chapter.
There are several minor variations all relating to GIs which the UK doesn't generally have a strong policy on. Firstly the GI provisions are to cover “Irish Whisky/Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beatha Eireannach” and “Irish Cream”. These GIs for products produced throughout the island of Ireland, including in Northern Ireland which remains part of the UK, but subject to some EU rules under Brexit. Otherwise Northern Ireland Producers would lose GI protection. Secondly the GI for Scottish Farmed Salmon will continue to have protection in Vietnam.
The other amendment is to remove certain provisions which grandfather certain narrow local use of Champagne and several cheese GIs.
The main purpose of the FTA is not however IP related (since IP is already well covered in the EU one), but to grow UK trade with Vietnam. Education, renewables and healthcare are key sectors, along with general infrastructure.
Principal, Global Head of Enforcement
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