ABOUT US     SITEMAP       HOME     VIETNAMESE EDITION  
 SEARCH 


 
HOME PAGE
 
   POLITICS
   BUSINESS
   SOCIETY
   YOUTH
   SPORTS
   ENTERTAINMENT
   TRAVEL
   HEALTH
   WORLD / REGION
   SPECIAL REPORT
   COMMENTARIES
   COMMUNITY
   EDITORIAL
----------------------------



 
 
 
 
Thanh Nien
 

Chief Editor : Mr. Nguyen Quang Thong
Managing Deputy Editor: Mr. Dang Thanh Tinh
248 Cong Quynh St . , Distr. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tel: 84 8 8 394 046
Fax: 84 8 8 322 025

Thanh Nien is the tribune of Vietnam’s Youth Association

Publication permit No. 14/GP-BC, granted by Press Department, Vietnam Ministry of Culture and Information.

Hot News: 
Last Updated:
E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend Print versionPrint version
Vietnam regrets defeat of US trade bill, hopes for new vote soon
Mr Le Dung, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry
Vietnam expressed disappointment Tuesday at the initial defeat of a key trade bill in the US Congress, and a government spokesman said he hoped the measure would be passed soon.

The Republican leadership of the US House of Representatives failed Monday to round up the two-thirds majority needed to rush through permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam.

The measure received 228 votes for passage and 161 against, falling short of the two-thirds needed for the passage in the 435-strong chamber under special rules to pass it without a debate.

"It is very regrettable that the US House of Representative has not approved the bill," said Le Dung, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry who said the early defeat failed "to meet with the interest and aspiration of the two countries, especially the interest of US business."

Vietnam was approved last week to become the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. However, until normal trade relations are approved, the WTO rules will not apply to trade between the United States and Vietnam.

Without the WTO regulations, Vietnamese exports - including garments, its largest non-oil export - would still be restricted in the United States while American companies could not take advantage of hard-fought WTO concessions in opening up Vietnamese markets.

The initial defeat came a few days before US President George W Bush, who has endorsed normal relations with Vietnam, is to arrive in Hanoi for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Congressional leaders have said they would resubmit the bill this week under normal debate rules, which would require a simple majority.

The same 228 votes would allow the measure to pass by simple majority in the House, but the bill would still need to be approved by the US Senate, where lawmakers seeking to protect US textile industries or punish Vietnam's human-rights record could still block its passage.

"We hope that the US Congress will approve PNTR to Vietnam at an early date, thus contributing to promoting the relations between the two countries," Dung said Tuesday.

On Monday, the Bush administration formally endorsed the bill. The president's Office of Management and Budget said in a statement that the bill would allow the United States and Vietnam to enjoy the benefits of Vietnam's membership in the WTO.

Vietnam has been hoping President Bush would arrive to normal trade relations when he attends the APEC summit in the capital city of Hanoi Saturday and Sunday.

The United States is now Vietnam's largest export market with nearly US$6 billion in exports last year.

The United States exported only about 1 billion dollars in goods to Vietnam, a trade deficit that contributes to lingering opposition to easing trade restrictions for Vietnam.

Source: German Press Agency

E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend Print versionPrint version To top
 OTHER TOP STORIES
Vietnam, US to mark 15th year of diplomatic relations
Vietnam to grow 7 pct this year: PM Dung
Japan’s aids to Vietnam likely to go down this year
Diplomats to play consultants’ role for local firms
ASEAN leader urges balance in wake of China free-trade pact
 
 OTHER HEADLINES
Don’t let foreign bosses do whatever they like
Vietnamese mathematician to teach at US university
Teachers cannot make their mark without insightful comments
Climate change fails to thwart resort rush
Shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station
Delta workers hospitalized after mass hysteria attack
Flowers on the water
Writing history
Binh Duong slides into first place
Earth Hour 2010 Vietnam seeks greater climate change awareness
More flights means more traffic before Tet
Biggest gold outfit imports 4 tons to keep prices in check
US to boost national defense cooperation with Vietnam

   
 
 
Politics | Business | Society | Youth | Sports | Entertainment | Travel | Health | 
World / Region | Special report | Commentaries | Community | Editorial | 
Homepage | Contact | Sitemap | About us | Vietnam Edition
Copyright © 2004 Privacy policy