Vietnam Expects PNTR from US before November

Vietnam can now be hopeful that the US will give it the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) before November this year, according to the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Economics and Budget Nguyen Duc Kien.

 

Talking to local media yesterday upon returning from the US trip to lobby for this status, Kien was optimistic that the target which is also a condition for Vietnam to be admitted to the World Trade Organization will possibly be achieved before the visit by US President G. Bush to Vietnam to attend the APEC Summit in November 2006.

 

“May US senators and businesspeople I met said they endorsed that Vietnam should be given the status in July or early August before US congressmen have the summer holiday,” the senior official also revealed.

 

Kien, however, also said that members of the US Lower House are still divided about this issue. Moreover, many members are adopting the wait-and-see policy and listening out for public opinion about all issues related to Vietnam ahead of their mid-term electoral campaign.

 

The Lower House is expected to debate the Act coded H.R 5602 on the matter later this month after voting on a trade agreement with Peru and Oman.

 

During their stay in the US, Kien and his entourage studied the US’s economy, finance, budget, and auditing and made contacts with the political and business circle to court their support for the PNTR status for Vietnam.