Congressman sees Vietnam trade debate this summer
HANOI - The vice chairman of the U.S. Ways and Means
Committee said on Thursday he expected a landmark trade pact with
Vietnam to go to the U.S. Congress for ratification this summer.
Representative Philip Crane, who chairs the committee's subcommittee
on trade, said in Hanoi he did not think the agreement signed last year
would be packaged into an omnibus trade bill, despite statements by
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.
``I can't get specific about dates...it will be some time this summer
though,'' Crane told reporters when asked when he thought the pact
would go before Congress for ratification.
Asked whether he thought the Vietnam agreement would be separated
from an omnibus trade bill championed by Zoellick, the Illinois
Republican replied: ``I'm sure.''
Asked about comments from Zoellick in March that he still favored
packaging Vietnam and other trade initiatives, Crane said: ``He made
previous statements, but I don't think that Vietnam will be packaged.''
Crane said when the Vietnam agreement eventually came to the house
he expected it to enjoy ``good, strong bipartisan support.''
He said though that he did not have any evidence to show the Vietnam
pact would not be packaged. Asked why he thought it would not be, he
said: ``Because that's contrary to the support we are trying to generate
on both sides of the aisle.''
While saying in March he still favored wrapping a long list of trade
priorities into a single bill, Zoellick said he was willing to consider a
Democrat call to consider initiatives one at a time.
Crane has met officials of the trade, labor and foreign ministries on his
trip to Vietnam. He spoke at an American Chamber of Commerce
lunch, where tables carried cards with the slogan
``Pass the BTA Now!.''
Proponents of the bilateral trade agreement signed under the Clinton
administration last July fear packaging it in an omnibus bill could delay
ratification as much as two years.
U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, a driving force behind the
trade pact between the Vietnam War enemies, told Reuters on
Wednesday he was hopeful.
Asked about possible delays in ratification, which had originally been
expected this spring, he replied:
``One doesn't know that. It's just a matter of the new administration
establishing their global trade policy. Vietnam happens to be one of
many trade issues being addressed.
``I think it would be wrong to conclude Vietnam is being singled out in
any way.
``It's a function of (the Bush administration) establishing a trade policy
that works for the new administration. They've only been in office for a
short time, so we have to give the new administration time to solidify
their trade policy.''
Reuters - April 12, 2001.
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