The European Union and Vietnam have reached an agreement in principle for a new free trade agreement after two and a half years of negotiations.
The agreement is the first of its kind the EU has concluded with a developing country.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom is hailing the agreement as a "milestone" and the first step toward a region-wide agreement with Southeast Asia.
"This agreement sets an EU new model for trade policy in developing countries. Once the agreement is up and running, it will provide significant opportunities for business, investment and for jobs here in Europe and in Vietnam. It will remove nearly all tariffs on goods traded between us. It covers services, investment and issues such as government
