Vietnam criticises 'unfairness' in WTO entry talks
HANOI - Vietnam faces tougher hurdles in joining the World Trade Organisation than countries before it, its trade minister said Monday, criticising the WTO's strict requirements of poor countries.
"There is unfairness in talks to join the WTO," said Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen.
"Compared with commitments of countries that joined the WTO between 1995 and 2000, the commitments for Vietnam, both bilaterally and multilaterally, are higher," he told a Hanoi press briefing.
Tuyen, who has led Vietnam's push to join the global trade club before the end of the year, said "the second unfairness is that for developing countries, there is no balance between rights and obligations."
"Obligations are heavy, but rights are not commensurate with them. The so-called 'special treatment' toward developing countries... exists only on paper."
Vietnam nonetheless hopes to finalise multilateral talks with the WTO in July, he said.
Limits on textile exports will be lifted once the communist country integrates more closely in the world economy, and new WTO compliance laws will create a more stable investment climate, said Tuyen.
Hanoi and Washington earlier this month agreed in principle on a trade deal that would pave the way for WTO entry, which both sides hope to sign in Ho Chi Minh City at a June 1-2 regional trade ministers' meeting.
Tuyen and US Trade Representative-designate Susan Schwab are both expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event.
"The two sides are actively preparing to sign the agreement," said Tuyen.
The minister said he had met with US Congressmen to lobby them to grant Vietnam permanent normal trade relations status, which would drop tariffs on Vietnam's exports to most-favoured-nation rates.
Vietnam, which has sought WTO membership for more than a decade, hopes to sign up before hosting an APEC summit in November that will bring regional leaders including US President George W. Bush.
The country has already passed legislation in areas such as investment, company law, intellectual property rights and tourism, to level the playing field and bring its legal system in line with global rules.
Once Vietnam joins the WTO, it will also face strong competition at home in areas such as retailing, telecommunications, banking and insurance.
Vietnam has reportedly agreed to accept the US designation as a "non-market-economy," for 12 years, which will allow Washington to impose quotas if it feels Vietnam is dumping garments or other products there.
Agence France Presse - May 22, 2006.
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