Maintaining market stability

In 2024, thanks to the proactive and close coordination between functional forces and units and localities, the work of combating smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods in the province has been effectively implemented, contributing to stabilizing the market and establishing order and discipline in commercial activities.

The market of goods is rich, diverse, and of guaranteed quality, meeting the production and consumption needs of the people. Goods and service businesses have complied with the provisions of the law in commercial business. Prices of some essential food and foodstuffs and agricultural production goods such as fertilizers, pesticides, etc. have not fluctuated much. In the area, there is no phenomenon of speculation, hoarding, excessive price increases, spreading false information, or causing market disruption, affecting the lives and activities of the people.

Market Management Team No. 5 inspects stationery items in Thanh Son district.

Following the direction of the Government, the National Steering Committee for Anti-Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (Steering Committee 389), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Provincial People’s Committee, Steering Committee 389 of Phu Tho province has proactively developed and implemented solutions to combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods; at the same time, focusing on directing member units of Steering Committee 389 in districts, cities and towns in the locality to deploy inspection and control measures, focusing on combating smuggled goods, banned goods, production and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, goods that infringe on property rights, promptly preventing illegal business activities, contributing to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and organizations and individuals engaged in legal production and business; stabilizing the market, promoting socio-economic development in the province.

In particular, in September, due to the impact of storm No. 3, heavy rain and storms accompanied by flooding in some localities caused great damage to people and property. The Provincial Steering Committee 389 has deployed many synchronous solutions, closely coordinated between sectors and localities, to grasp the situation of storms and floods and promptly overcome the impacts and damages caused by storms and floods; it directed all levels, sectors, and units to proactively ensure an adequate supply of essential goods and goods for overcoming the consequences of storms for areas affected by storms and floods. In addition, regular market inspection and control work is focused on to promptly detect and handle violations in business activities, especially those taking advantage of natural disasters for profit, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety in the province.

Market Management Team No. 1 inspects goods in Viet Tri city.

According to data from the Provincial Steering Committee 389, by the end of October 2024, the authorities had inspected, detected, and handled 1,316 violations, fined, and paid to the state budget over 62 billion VND (of which administrative fines were over VND20 billion; confiscated goods sales proceeds were VND364 million; and additional fines and tax arrears were over VND41.5 billion); and prosecuted 33 cases/178 defendants. Many commercial fraud cases were discovered on a large scale in both traditional and online trade channels.

Of which, dozens of violations related to e-commerce were discovered and handled, such as displaying and selling counterfeit goods, trading in goods of unknown origin, and not notifying the e-commerce website selling goods to the competent state management agency as prescribed before selling goods or providing services to consumers. Violating goods focus on product groups such as cosmetics, food, electronics, fashion, etc.

It is forecasted that by the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the world and regional political and economic situation will continue to be complicated and unpredictable; prices of materials and raw materials for production will fluctuate; the application of e-commerce and digital technology in business and shopping activities of people will become more and more popular; people’s consumption needs will increase, especially during the Lunar New Year 2025.

Therefore, in order to continue to improve the effectiveness of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, the member sectors of the Provincial Steering Committee 389 need to continue to closely follow the direction of the government, the prime minister, the National Steering Committee 389, and directly the Provincial Steering Committee 389 and the tasks of their sectors to effectively implement the fight against smuggling, counterfeit goods, and trade fraud. At the same time, adjust and concretize into programs and implementation plans in each sector, field, and locality to ensure effectiveness and suitability with practical conditions. Strengthen coordination with forces and localities in information exchange, grasp the situation to investigate, verify, and promptly prevent and handle violations; closely inspect and monitor the market, especially essential sectors and goods, to ensure balance of supply and demand of goods, market stability, and social security in the province.

Le Hung

Director of Phu Tho Market Management Department