Vietnam, US Conclude Nine WTO's Round Talks

Vietnam and the US have wrapped up nine negotiation rounds on the former’s bid to join World Trade Organization (WTO), according to Dau Tu (Investment) local newspaper.

 

“Though there are some differences between Vietnam and the US, the ninth round showed positive signals that could lead to conclusion”, the newspaper quoted Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu as saying.

 

The Vietnamese chief negotiator also released that Vietnam cannot define the time to get the WTO’s ticket but still expects to achieve the goal early following recent positive outcomes of negotiations with remaining partners.

 

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan also announced that Vietnam is likely to fail the WTO goal this year and he stressed the missing of the date was caused by high requirements of some partners especially the US. Besides, Khoan revealed Vietnam would not set the date for WTO’s entrance anymore.

 

Vietnam applied to join the WTO in 1995 and initially targeted to hit the objective at the WTO’s sixth Ministerial Meeting to be held in Hong Kong in December this year.

 

Vietnam has to conduct bilateral WTO talks with 28 trade partners and it has so far completed the rounds with 22 of them.