3:26:37 PM | 7/8/2005
Vietnam may find it hard to negotiate entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) but ultimately the entry will be for the country’s own good, said former WTO General Director Mike Moore on Monday in Hanoi.
The reforms Vietnam are carrying out to shape the country for WTO entrance should be inevitability considered for “its own benefit,” not as “a concession to… any other country” said Mr. Moore in WTO talks, who is paying a visit to Vietnam from April 10-16.
It will be very profitable for Vietnam if it can join the WTO Doha round of negotiations after holding WTO membership late this year, said the former WTO leader, who is also a former prime minister of New Zealand. [The Doha round is the free trade negotiations between developed and developing countries, formally known as the Doha Development Agenda]
If Vietnamese exporters are excluded from the world’s trade mechanisms, they will not be able to reach the world markets, Mr. Moore said. Trade protective policies are not always helpful either, he added.
He gave an example that if Vietnam tries to protect local sugar production, many sugar traders will eventually import foreign sugar at cheaper prices for local sale. What is important now for the Vietnamese government is to not overprotect any group of producers, he concluded.
The former leader also urged Vietnam not to be discouraged by tough negotiation conditions put out by its partners. China’s WTO talks with other countries were no less demanding when it was applying for WTO admission, he said.
As negotiations get tougher, Vietnam obviously will face easier conditions, he added.
Mr. Moore came to Vietnam on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic ties. His trip also aims to boost bilateral cooperation in education, trade, investment and issues relating to Vietnam joining the WTO.
Also yesterday, Mr. Moore had talks with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan. The guest expressed his support for Vietnam's bid to join the WTO.
Vietnam hopes to join the WTO later this year. To this end, the country must finalize the tenth round of multilateral negotiations and talks with 21 partners, including the US and Japan this year.
To date, the Southeast Asian country has completed six bilateral deals including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, the European Union and Singapore, and nine multilateral negotiation rounds on its accession to the WTO.
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