Socialist Republic of Vietnam

For Vietnam to gain success in its bilateral talks with the U.S. about its entry to the World Trade Organization, the country needs to exert all efforts to meet the U.S. requests, said a U.S. negotiator recently.

“But, there are many issues within Vietnam’s reach,” said Joseph Damond, the head negotiator of the U.S. delegation for the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement signed in July, 2000.

Mr. Damond told Thanh Nien that the current talks between the two countries in Washington, D.C. was a good opportunity for Vietnam to move forward.

“Vietnam has come to understand what it is that the U.S. and other partners want from Vietnam in order for the country to integrate into the WTO,” said Mr. Damond. “I think the current question right now is whether Vietnam can put forth the needed efforts to meet such requirements.”

But, Mr. Damond said that the country still had a lot of work to do before concluding bilateral talks with the U.S. “Vietnam has to make some relatively tough decisions, like for example, opening up its domestic market to foreign goods, agricultural products, banking and insurance fields,” he said.

And, Mr. Damond added, if Vietnam wanted to meet its goal of entering the global trade organization by 2005, Vietnam needed to make its decisions as clear-cut as possible. “If Vietnam is not ready to do these things, then I think it will be very difficult for the country to achieve its goal. But, I hope Vietnam can do it,” he said.

In addition, Mr. Damond said Vietnam’s goal of joining the WTO by 2005 wasn’t based solely on concluding talks with the U.S. “Vietnam’s goal of joining is feasible if the country can conclude talks with the U.S. and other tough partners like China and Japan. The U.S. isn’t Vietnam’s only major trading partner,” he said.

But, “I don’t think it will be easy to conclude talks with China,” he added.

The U.S. negotiator also expressed his wish for Vietnam to do well in the talks. “Vietnam cannot wait for or expect easiness in these negotiations… But, as a person who has worked with Vietnam for a long time and as a friend, I hope the country succeeds.”

“The world community is watching Vietnam’s efforts and deems the country’s determination to reach its goal as a signal of its commitment towards continuing reforms,” he said.

Meanwhile, observers have been saying that the U.S. will hardly make any breakthrough commitments in this negotiation round in the context that the presidential election is wrapping up next week, but Mr. Damond disagreed.

“I think that even if we have a new president, U.S. policy on this matter will not change or be affected. So it’s impossible to say that we cannot conclude the talks, because we are waiting for the result of the presidential election,” he said.

Reported by Xuan Danh - Translated by T.H.

Thanh Nien Newspaper, 28 October 2004