VN–UAE CEPA tariff 2026: preferential import duty & C/O

Vietnam – UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Quick facts
Effective for Vietnam
03/02/2026
Members
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
C/O form
UAE-VN; self-certification by approved exporters
Import side: UAE’s competent authority (UAE Ministry of Economy); Vietnamese exports: issued via eCoSys, with issuance delegated to provincial People’s Committees under current rules
Legal basis
Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP (issued 05/05/2026, special preferential import tariff 2026–2027, applied RETROACTIVELY from 03/02/2026)
Circular 24/2026/TT-BCT (issued 05/05/2026, consolidated as text 49/VBHN-BCT after Circular 26/2026/TT-BCT)

CEPA tariff schedule issued - lookup data is being updated

Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP applies retroactively from 03/02/2026: shipments that already paid the MFN rate from 03/02/2026 onward may be refunded the difference. Leave your contact details - an Avenir expert will review your specific item.

Does your shipment qualify for VN–UAE CEPA?

Have an Avenir expert check the rules of origin & C/O form - free of charge.

Rules of origin to know

  • Vietnam’s 17th FTA and the first with an Arab state - a Middle East gateway for Vietnamese goods, and preferences for UAE goods (plastics, aluminium, petrochemicals, dates...) entering Vietnam.
  • In force since 03/02/2026; the schedule under Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP (05/05/2026) applies RETROACTIVELY - declarations registered from 03/02/2026 can be reassessed.
  • UAE-VN form C/O under Circular 24/2026/TT-BCT; approved-exporter self-certification accepted.

Steps to claim VN–UAE CEPA preferential duty

  1. 1
    Review declarations since 03/02/2026

    UAE shipments that paid MFN duty between 03/02–05/05/2026 (before Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP was issued) may be eligible for a refund of the difference if a valid C/O is supplemented within the window.

  2. 2
    Determine the 8-digit HS code

    Use Avenir’s HS lookup tool or ask an expert.

  3. 3
    Obtain the UAE-VN form C/O

    Ask the UAE partner to apply for the new-format C/O, or use self-certification if they are an approved exporter.

  4. 4
    Declare on the customs declaration

    Declare at clearance; 1-year supplementary window under Circular 33/2023/TT-BTC.

Post-clearance audit risks & common mistakes

Forgetting the retroactive refund right

Businesses that imported UAE goods between 03/02–05/05/2026 and paid MFN without re-checking are leaving refund money on the table - review declarations in that window now.

New agreement, unfamiliar C/O format

The UAE-VN form and the self-certification mechanism under Circular 24/2026/TT-BCT are new to businesses and customs branches alike - prepare the dossier carefully to avoid lengthy verification.

Frequently asked questions about VN–UAE CEPA

Is the VN–UAE CEPA in force yet?
Yes - in force since 03/02/2026. The preferential schedule was promulgated in Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP on 05/05/2026, applying retroactively to declarations registered from 03/02/2026.
Can I recover MFN duty paid on UAE goods in early 2026?
Possibly. Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP applies retroactively from 03/02/2026: declarations in the 03/02–05/05/2026 window that meet the C/O conditions have the overpaid duty handled per regulations. Contact Avenir to review your specific dossier.
Why doesn’t the tool show a UAE CEPA row yet?
The Decree 143/2026/NĐ-CP schedule is being loaded into Avenir’s lookup database. Meanwhile, leave your contact - our experts will check your product codes against the source schedule directly.
Who issues the UAE-VN C/O?
On the UAE side: the competent authority under the agreement (UAE Ministry of Economy) or approved-exporter self-certification; for Vietnamese exports: issued via eCoSys under Circular 24/2026/TT-BCT.

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