Congressmen's Support for Vietnam PNTR Increases after NA Mission Tour

The number of US congressmen supporting the bill on granting Permanent Normal Trade Relation (PNTR) to Vietnam has grown to 41 from 30 after the conclusion of the trip of a special commission of the Vietnamese National Assembly traveling to the US to specifically lobby congress on the issue, state media reported today.

 

Experts and observers said the number is satisfactory for Vietnam, and that the country is likely to receive the commercial relations status within months.

 

The delegation touring the US from June 12-16 was led by Chairman of the Vietnam-US Caucus Vu Xuan Hong.

 

During their stay in the US, the mission held a number of meetings and discussions with US congressmen to call for support for Vietnam proposal to get the commercial status for Vietnam, which is a vital condition of joining the World Trade Organization.

 

They met with 13 US Congressmen, both Republicans and Democrats, including Jim Ramstad and Mike Thompson who sponsored the bill to grant PNTR for Vietnam in the US House of Representatives, and the Chairwoman of the Asia-Pacific panel of the US Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations, Lisa Murkowski, the news source reported.

 

They also held working sessions with Aides and key members of the Congress, including the Leader of the House Democrats and the House Speaker. Besides, the delegation had contacts with the US-Vietnam WTO Coalition and US war veteran groups including the VVA, the VVMF and the VFW.

VNA, Labour