FTA Index 2025 · Provincial Brief
Quang Tri
Provincial performance in implementing free trade agreements
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Classification
Average
Average
Band 5 of 6 — 32nd of 34 assessed provinces.
Overall score
Trails the national average of 21.66 by 9.14 points.
Weakest pillar
34/ 34
Legal implementation — the widest gap of the four pillars (−2.66).
Four component indexes at a glance
A
Information access
Rank 34 / 34
2.37
/ 10
-2.42 vs avg
B
Implementation of FTA legal regulations
Rank 34 / 34
2.54
/ 10
-2.66 vs avg
C
Policies supporting FTA utilisation
Rank 26 / 34
5.25
/ 10
-0.57 vs avg
D
Sustainable development commitments
Rank 32 / 34
3.37
/ 10
-2.59 vs avg
★ Relative strengths
#2
C3 — Forms of FTA Utilisation
#5
C1 — FTA Utilisation
#8
C5 — Barriers to FTA Utilisation
#9
A2/A8/D2/D5 — Access to FTA Information from State Agencies, Quality of Export Forecasting and Market-Orientation Information from Local State Management Agencies, Perceived Impact of Sustainable Development Commitments, Perceived Importance of Compliance with Import-Market Sustainable Development Regulations
Critical gaps
#34
thD1/D3/D4 — Knowledge, readiness to comply, effectiveness of compliance support
#34
thA6/A9/B2 — Sources of event information, awareness of the online portal, frequency of legal guidance
#33
rdC4 — Number of Commitment Groups Utilised
#32
ndB1 — Understanding of Legal Documents Implementing FTA Commitments
Source: FTA Index 2025; scale 1–5; ranks out of 34 provinces
01
Overview of the result
Quang Tri scored 12.52 out of 40, ranking 32nd of 34, and was placed in the Average tier. The province sits 9.14 points below the national average of 21.66. One striking feature accompanies that overall result: firms in the province still show real initiative in using FTAs, with forms of FTA utilisation ranking 2nd and FTA utilisation itself ranking 5th nationally. The institutional support system, however, appears not to have kept pace with that demand and capability: the widest gaps lie in legal implementation and information access — both pillars rank 34th, while sustainable development remains weak on knowledge, readiness and practical support.
Quang Tri
National average
A
Information access
-2.42
B
Implementation of FTA legal regulations
-2.66
C
Policies supporting FTA utilisation
-0.57
D
Sustainable development commitments
-2.59
02
Detailed analysis by component index
A
Component Index 1
Information access
2.37 / 10
Rank 34 / 34 · -2.42
Overview
Quang Tri records a markedly uneven result on this pillar. Firms still reach some information directly from state agencies, and some forecasting and market-orientation content, with both indicators ranking 9th nationally. The wider FTA delivery channels, however, are not working to match: firms’ knowledge of FTAs ranks 30th, the forms of access to FTA information rank 32nd, and the sources of information on communication events and awareness of the online portal both rank 34th.
By firm type
Participation in FTA communication activity is limited across almost every group. Websites and social media are the more widely used channels, particularly among small and private domestic firms. The online portal, training programmes, print publications and the local agency Zalo account reach very few firms. Information quality is mostly rated as no better than average, so firms do come into contact with FTA information but the content itself needs further improvement.
-2.42 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#9 Access to FTA Information from State Agencies
#9 Quality of Export Forecasting and Market-Orientation Information from Local State Management Agencies
#30 Knowledge of FTAs
#34 Sources of Information on FTA Communication Events
#34 Quality of FTA Information on the Online Portal
B
Component Index 2
Implementation of FTA legal regulations
2.54 / 10
Rank 34 / 34 · -2.66
Overview
Quang Tri needs to strengthen its guidance and legal support for firms. Understanding of the legal documents implementing FTA commitments ranks 32nd, while the frequency of guidance on those documents ranks 34th nationally. Guidance quality and participation in training both rank 30th, showing that disseminating and explaining the FTA rules is not reaching the business community often enough. Policy feedback and agency uptake of business comments for updating the legal documents fare rather better, indicating that some initial channels of dialogue between firms and agencies do exist.
By firm type
understanding of the FTA commitments is uneven across firm groups. Many firms stop at basic awareness of content such as rules of origin, SPS, TBT, intellectual property, trade remedies, labour and environment. Guidance does not reach many groups regularly either, leaving firms poorly updated and limited in their ability to apply the rules. Large firms understand slightly more, but clearer and more practical forms of guidance are needed across the board to support FTA implementation.
-2.66 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#24 Policy Feedback and Consultation
#26 Uptake of Business Feedback by Local State Management Agencies
#30 Quality of Guidance on FTA Implementing Legal Documents
#32 Understanding of Legal Documents Implementing FTA Commitments
#34 Frequency of Guidance on FTA Implementing Legal Documents
C
Component Index 3
Policies supporting FTA utilisation
5.25 / 10
Rank 26 / 34 · -0.57
Overview
Firms in the province use FTAs relatively actively, with utilisation of the FTAs already signed ranking 5th and the forms of utilisation ranking 2nd nationally. The exploitation of specific commitments remains low, however, with that indicator ranking 33rd nationally. Access to, and the effectiveness of, competitiveness support policy is also unremarkable. Most notably, barriers to FTA utilisation register clearly, showing that firms in the province still meet difficulties in reaching the benefits FTAs offer.
By firm type
The FTA benefits firms use most are tariff preferences and trade facilitation measures. More complex content — TBT, SPS, trade remedies, intellectual property, labour, environment and rules of origin — is exploited far less, especially among micro, small and private domestic firms. Large and FDI firms have better access, but understanding of the more specialised FTA commitments remains limited across the board.
-0.57 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#2 Forms of FTA Utilisation
#5 FTA Utilisation
#8 Barriers to FTA Utilisation
#30 Access to Competitiveness Support Policies
#33 Number of Commitment Groups Utilised
D
Component Index 4
Sustainable development commitments
3.37 / 10
Rank 32 / 34 · -2.59
Overview
Firms in Quang Tri do recognise the impact and importance of the sustainable development commitments for production and business. They still need more support on the information base and on practical training to understand how to meet these standards, however: knowledge of the commitments, readiness to comply, and the effectiveness of compliance support all rank 34th nationally.
By firm type
Large and FDI firms understand newer requirements such as EUDR, CSDDD and CBAM better. Small and private domestic firms are typically unclear about, or unfamiliar with, this content. Large and FDI firms also expect a stronger effect on their business from the labour, environmental and biodiversity commitments.
-2.59 vs avg
National rank by indicator
#9 Perceived Impact of Sustainable Development Commitments
#9 Perceived Importance of Compliance with Import-Market Sustainable Development Regulations
#34 Knowledge of Sustainable Development Commitments
#34 Readiness to Comply with Sustainable Development Commitments
#34 Effectiveness of Support from Local State Management Agencies
03
Conclusions & implications
Strengths to build on
Firms clearly want to use FTAs: FTA utilisation and the forms of utilisation both show real initiative in pursuing the opportunities integration offers.
Some direct information channels still work: firms do receive information from state agencies and market forecasting content, an initial base on which to widen FTA communication.
Firms already see why sustainability matters: awareness of the impact and importance of the sustainable development commitments gives the province an important basis for building compliance support programmes next.
Limitations to address
The support system has not kept pace with firms' initiative: access to policy, legal support and practical guidance all remain limited.
FTA information and guidance need to run more regularly: the communication channels, events, portal and training all need to become easier to reach for small firms, private domestic firms and the groups least engaged in formal activity.
Sustainability compliance capacity must be built from the ground up: firms need more information, training and practical support to prepare for labour, environmental and import-market standards.
Next steps
Address the bottlenecks to move into the highest group
1
Widen the FTA information channels
Improve access to the portal, communication events, training and easy-to-use update channels for small and private domestic firms.
A 34 → higher
2
Step up practical legal guidance
Run guidance more often on rules of origin, SPS, TBT, C/O and the FTA rules, kept short and easy to apply.
B 34 → higher
Help firms move beyond the basic benefits into more specific, higher-value FTA commitments.
C 26 → higher
4
Support sustainability compliance
Provide information and practical training on labour, environment, EUDR, CBAM and CSDDD for exporting firms.
D 32 → higher
