US Former Senior Officials Call for PNTR for Vietnam

A number of US former high-ranking officials yesterday sent a letter to the US Congress urging the law-making agency to grant permanent normal trade relation (PNTR) status to Vietnam, foreign media said.

 

"America's long-term security and economic interests will be advanced by Vietnam's full integration into the rules-based global trading system," the onetime officials said in a joint letter Tuesday to the bipartisan Congressional leadership.

 

The letter signed by former Secretaries of State Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Warren Christopher, James Baker, Lawrence Eagleburger, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell and also Former U.S. Trade Representatives Charlene Barshefsky, Carla Hill and Clayton Yeutter called approval of the trade deal "the logical next step in the normalization of relations between our two countries."

 

An US trade official speaking in unidentified conditions said the Bush administration hoped that key committees in the Senate and the House would at least approve the deal before August.

 

Meanwhile, Vietnam broadsheet newspaper of Dau Tu (Investment) today said that Vietnam likely to gain the WTO membership in October this year. It explained that large number of congressman supports the bill for Vietnam and also US business circle are urging it to offer Vietnam the trade status.

 

Besides, the last multilateral round talk on Vietnam’s bid to join the Geneva-based trade club on 19 this month will not a complicated one, Vietnam just has to complete some procedures during the talk. (Source: Investment, Media News, Vietnam Panorama)