Abstract
The entry of Vietnam into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its participation in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) present challenges not only for the country's economy but also for the environment. Because Vietnam is currently transforming itself from a centrally planned to a market economy, it may experience some difficulty adjusting to the pace of liberalization in AFTA and to the environmental policy-making process. When looking ahead to Vietnam's future, important questions to ask are the following: (a) What are the possible socioeconomic and environmental impacts of Vietnam's participation in AFTA? (b) How will the government of Vietnam respond to these impacts? This article summarizes economic perspectives for Vietnam and describes the main environmental problems that will likely be associated with Vietnam's entry into AFTA.
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