All sources are for BTA implementation
An interview with Chairman Walter Blocker of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam) about
the implementation of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and
Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Please give your remarks on the
implementation pace of the BTA.
At this stage, it's difficult to gauge exactly how the
implementation process has been proceeding. My
feeling is that in some areas, it is proceeding very,
very well, and in other areas, it is falling short. We
believe the next twelve months will be very critical
months as information becomes easier to receive
and the implementation process is easier to
measure.
Do you think that the Vietnamese
Government has made adequate efforts to
realize the BTA?
It's perfectly clear to me that Vietnam has taken the implementation of the
BTA very seriously. It's mobilizing all sources available to ensure the
timely and satisfactory implementation of the agreement. And the
implementation of the BTA will go a long way to the WTO membership
because Vietnam has made it clear that it wishes to join the WTO and
take necessary steps to join the WTO. The government has realized that
it's the country's interest to first implement the performance necessary for
the trade agreement with the U.S. However, we have to understand that
there are parts of the implementation process that require new training,
new personnel, new divisions within the government, and this will take
time to set up. I encourage the Vietnamese Government to look at these
areas now that need refinement and not wait to set them up. I also
encourage the U.S. side to appreciate the fact that many of the
implement areas that require monitoring did not exist in this country
before, and that it will take time for the Vietnamese Government to get the
right people in those positions.
Could you elaborate on the areas that require monitoring?
To give an example, [they are] those issues surrounding intellectual
property rights, for instance setting up a division to investigate potential
copyright manufacturing errors, understanding of the legal process,
appropriate fines for IPR (Intellectual Property Right) violations, and
violation handling during the court of law. It's a very intricate process and
these systems must be put in place not just to protect American or foreign
copyright, but Vietnamese copyright as well. Vietnam has proved that it is
capable of producing world-class products and services, and as
Vietnam grows and prospers there will be more of those world-class
products and services that need to be protected under the same laws. I
believe Vietnam knows that it is its best interest that IPR should be
protected.
Obviously, IPR is a focus in the BTA implementation process.
Several foreign investors in Vietnam, Honda for instance,
have launched campaigns to enforce their copyright here. Will
the U.S. side have the same activities?
Firstly, laws concerning IPR must be crystal clear and transparent in
order for us to have progress. Ultimately, that is the most important part of
the foundation.
Secondly, I know that operating in a country such as Vietnam, at this
stage, there must be corporate responsibility for helping Vietnam
implement all the laws that have been established. When I say "help
implement" I mean helping establish, as Honda has done in many other
countries, an education process to the consumers for your brands and
other brands so that the consumer begins the discrimination process of
determining what's real and what's not. We must work together as a
community to solve this very big problem.
The third point is that in the past, and I'm certain in the future, the U.S.
embassy and the consulate have provided resources in one way or
another to support activities such as these to help improve the
communication process.
How will a successful BTA implementation impact Vietnam's
WTO accession?
I would say the implementation of the BTA is critical for Vietnam to be
accepted into the WTO. Although the two are not officially connected, the
WTO will look closely on how Vietnam handles the bilateral trade
agreement and what progress has been made in considering Vietnam's
WTO membership. It's clear that Vietnam is serious about the WTO and
has stated an ambitious goal, a membership in 2005. I applaud this goal.
But much work has to be done to ensure that to happen. WTO accession
will allow Vietnam to be an equal partner in trade disputes with countries
around the world and exports are critical for the development of the
country. To receive the WTO membership, Vietnam must show the WTO
that it's capable of performing. The BTA will be the biggest test Vietnam
has and the biggest reason for Vietnam to claim membership status
when the time comes.
Is 2005 a realistic timing for Vietnam's entry into the WTO?
That timing is very ambitious. I don't want to predict when Vietnam will join
the WTO, but AmCham supports Vietnam's goal of 2005 membership,
and we will do everything in our power to ensure the goals of the
Vietnamese Government for the WTO and for the BTA are met.
Do you think Vietnam's preparations for the WTO admission
are effective?
I must say Vietnam's ability to implement the BTA that goes a long way
towards WTO membership must come from the strength of the
leadership of Vietnam. No matter how strong the American business
community or foreign investors support Vietnam's WTO is, Vietnam must
do it.
What can Vietnam do to facilitate U.S. investment in the
country?
Clearly, one of the biggest issues for potential American investors to
come to Vietnam is transparency. The faster Vietnam can implement the
cornerstone of the trade agreement, the faster investment will come in.
We've already seen quite a large increase in American investment in
Vietnam just this year.
I think more investors will come when IPR issues are continued to be
resolved, and infrastructure developed in this country. For example, I'm
very interested in the high-tech park being developed in District 9, HCM
City. As this is a fantastic project, I encourage funding to be made
available for this project to get started right away. I also encourage the
master plan to be developed and the city to develop the first part of it so
that infrastructure is made available now. Instead of telling potential
investors that we are going to build it, we'd say a section of it-water
supply, power, or telecom lines-is being built. We don't have to do all
today but we can get it started with the first phase. AmCham will do
everything it can to help fill that park up. We will talk to everyone and
push them to the great points why they should invest here. But the
infrastructure must be in place for Vietnam to compete with other nations
in this regard.
By Son Tung - The Saigon Times Weekly - November 16, 2002.
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