Washington –
United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab today lauded the introduction of
legislation in Congress to terminate application of Jackson-Vanik trade
restrictions and pave the way for Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with
Vietnam.
Following the conclusion of a bilateral market access agreement between the
United States and Vietnam last month, passage of PNTR legislation is another
step toward Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). After the
introduction of the bills in the House and Senate today, Ambassador Schwab
stated:
"I am delighted by today’s introduction of PNTR legislation by a large
bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate. Last month we
concluded a strong bilateral trade agreement with Vietnam that will open its
fast growing market to US farmers, workers and service providers. It also will
promote continued economic and political reform within Vietnam and continue the
normalization of US –
Vietnam relations that has been underway for almost two decades. But we need
passage of PNTR to realize these opportunities."
BACKGROUND:
Today’s PNTR legislation was co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators Max
Baucus (D-MT), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), John
Kerry (D-MA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), John McCain (R-AZ) and Lisa Murkowski
(R-AK). In the House the co-sponsors are Representatives Jim Ramstad (R-MN),
Mike Thompson (D-CA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kevin Brady
(R-TX), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Robert
"Bud" Cramer (D-AL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Artur Davis
(D-AL), Norman Dicks (D-WA), David Dreier (R-CA), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Anna
Eshoo (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Wally Herger (R-CA), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX),
William Jefferson (D-LA), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Nancy Johnson (R-CT),
John Kline (R-MN), Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jim Leach (R-IA), Ron Lewis (R-KY), Jim
McDermott (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Jim McCrery
(R-LA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jim Moran (D-VA), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Jose Serrano
(D-NY), Ike Skelton (D-MO), Adam Smith (D-WA), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Jerry
Weller (R-IL).
PNTR is necessary for the United States to capture the benefits of Vietnam’s
WTO accession commitments. A description of the recently concluded bilateral
market access agreement can be found at www.ustr.gov.
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