Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 107th Congress, First Session, Volume 147, Part 12 Page: 16,505
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September 6, 2001
far-reaching and comprehensive trade agree-
ment ever negotiated with a non-market econ-
omy country. It grants the United States vastly
improved access to Vietnam's potentially enor-
mous consumer class, and improves market
access for industrial and agricultural goods,
services, intellectual property rights, and in-
vestment, while requiring greater trans-
parency.
The U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agree-
ment will help Vietnam's reformers lock in the
economic transformation that slower growth
after the Asian financial crisis threatens to un-
ravel. Continued engagement with the Viet-
namese government also advances key U.S.
foreign policy objectives, including the fullest
possible accounting of Prisoners of War/Miss-
ing in Action (POW/MIA), freedom of emigra-
tion, increased U.S. business opportunities in
Vietnam, and promoting Asian regional sta-
bility.
Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the
United States, Le Van Bang recently noted the
positive influence that continued engagement
has had on the Vietnamese people. He said
that since we first reestablished diplomatic
ties, the Vietnamese people have changed
their attitudes toward Americans from "the bit-
terness of war to a love of America." In such
a fresh and positive atmosphere, our values in
other key areas surely stand a much better
hearing and more open consideration if we
continue down this road. Approval of the U.S.-
Vietnam BTA demonstrates we too are healing
from one of the most divisive wars in our na-
tion's history and that we seek to begin a new
and truly productive era in U.S.-Vietnamese
relations.
Congressional approval of the U.S.-Vietnam
Bilateral Trade Agreement and the expansion
of business contacts between our two nations
provides the strongest foundation for encour-
aging even further progress and reform in
Vietnam. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to
vote yes for H.J. Res. 51.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise
in strong support of this measure to expand
our trade relations with Vietnam.
This resolution, which ratifies the U.S.-Viet-
nam bilateral trade agreement and extends
normal trade relations to Vietnam, enjoys
broad bipartisan support. The agreement rep-
resents a milestone toward building a stronger
commercial relationship with Vietnam and pro-
moting U.S. security and diplomatic interests
in the region.
We have seen tremendous progress in our
diplomatic and economic relations with the Vi-
etnamese Government. The country is experi-
encing a new era, driven by a population
where 65 percent of its citizens were born
after the war. Vietnam today welcomes U.S.
trade and economic investment.
Through a policy of engagement and U.S.
business investment, Vietnam has improved
its policies on immigration, cooperated on U.S.
refugee programs, and worked with the United
States on achieving the fullest possible ac-
counting of POW/MIAs from the Vietnam War.
Despite problems of corruption and govern-
ment repression, there is reason to believe
that our presence in Vietnam can improve the
situation and encourage its government to be-come more open, respect human rights and
follow the rule of law. Former U.S. Ambas-CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE
sador to Vietnam, Pete Peterson, our es-
teemed former colleague and former POW,
has been one of our nation's strongest advo-
cates for expanding trade with Vietnam.
However, this resolution is not a blank
check to Vietnam. Before the United States
grants NTR status to Vietnam, the Vietnamese
Government is required to sharply lower most
tariffs; phase out all non-tariff measures; and
adhere to WTO standards in applying cus-
toms, import licensing another measures.
This measure also takes an important step
in requiring Vietnam to allow U.S., firms over
a period of time to enter its services market in
a full range of areas, including financial,
telecom, engineering, computing, education,
health and other services. Two other critical
areas of this agreement require Vietnam to
protect U.S. investments from expropriation
and adopt a fully transparent trade and invest-
ment regime.
Mr. Speaker, disapproval of this resolution
will only discourage U.S. businesses from op-
erating in Vietnam, arm Soviet-style hardliners
with the pretext to clamp down on what eco-
nomic and social freedoms the Vietnamese
people now experience, and eliminate what
opportunity we have to influence Vietnam in
the future-.
Approval of this bilateral agreement will ad-
vance U.S. economic interests and, more im-
portantly to our regional interests in Asia, fur-
ther integrate Vietnam into the global econ-
omy. I urge my colleagues to support this res-
olution.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker,
I rise in favor of H.J. Res. 51. I am pleased
to have the opportunity to vote in favor of free
trade while respecting my commitment to
Human Rights.
Mr. Speaker, last year the U.S. signed a
sweeping bilateral trade agreement with Viet-
nam.
The State Department year 2000 review of
Vietnam human rights noted that Vietnam has
made improvements in its human rights
record. Despite these improvements, the State
Department still rated Vietnam as "poor" over-
all on human rights, highlighting continued
government repression of basic political free-
doms. The State Department also noted that
the Vietnam Government is intolerant of dis-
senting viewpoints, and selectively represses
the religious rights of its citizens.
Because of these factors, I voted in favor of
H.J. Res. 55, legislation disapproving Waiver
Authority with respect to Vietnam. Mr. Speak-
er, my vote was a protest vote, for I believe
we cannot continue to hope that trade alone
will guarantee the basic human rights of our
trading partners.
Today, this House also considers H.R.
2368, the "Vietnam Human Rights Act," which
establishes a commission to monitor human
rights in Vietnam. I regard this as a step in a
new direction, and one that I applaud. By dis-
cussing trade with Vietnam in the same con-
text as its human rights situation, we are fi-
nally moving in a more comprehensive direc-
tion that respects our global obligations.
As the leader of the free world, we have an
obligation to promote core values when en-
gaging the rest of the world. Thus, I have
fewer reservations about moving forward with
Vietnam.16505
As we move into this new millennium, our
actions here today signal a commitment to ex-
panding the marketplace in a manner that
benefits both the United States and Vietnam.
The extension of Normal Trade Relations will
grant market access to American industrial
and agricultural products previously denied
from competition. U.S. firms are also granted
access to the Vietnam services market. We
will be allowed to compete in telecommuni-
cations, financial services, engineering, ac-
counting, and a variety of industries that will
help develop an infrastructure in Vietnam to
support our new commitment to engage Viet-
nam on all levels of concern.
The approval of this legislation will ensure
that U.S. firms committed to trade with Viet-
nam receive the protection of investments
necessary to commit resources in a foreign
country. By requiring a fully transparent trade
regime with the promulgation of laws and reg-
ulations though a public process, this legisla-
tion helps Vietnam develop policies that will
he~Thi legisltion cannot bethevaluated, how-
ever, without the approval of H.R. 2368. Ad-
vancing the agenda of global trade in coun-
tries that do not respect their citizens is tanta-
mount to modern day feudalism, and should
not be supported by this House.
Establishing a trade regime with Vietnam
that will ease this nation's transition into the
WTO means nothing unless prisoners like
Catholic Priest Nguyen Van Ly, Mr. Le Quang
Liem of the Inter-Religious Council, and Bud-
dhist leaders the Venerable Thieh Huyen
Quang and the Venerable Thieh Quang Do
are ensured their right to freely exercise their
respective religions.
Mr. Speaker, today this House goes a long
way toward reconciling the concerns of all par-
ties interested in global trade and its con-
sequences. Passage of H.J. Res. 51 ensures
that American products will be given fair ac-
cess to the Vietnamese marketplace. By com-
bining the extension of this trade with the rec-
ognition of Human Rights here on the House
Floor, we set a positive precedent for future
trade legislation. I therefore support H.J. Res.
51.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Speaker pro tempore (Mr. SIMP-
SON). All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of
Wednesday, September 5, 2001, the joint
resolution is considered read for
amendment, and the previous question
The qudedstion is on the engrossment
and third reading of the joint resolu-
tion.
The joint resolution was ordered to
be engrossed and read a third time, was
read the third time, and passed.
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. THOMA S. Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within
which to revise and extend their re-
marks on H.J. Res. 51, the joint resolu-
tion just passed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
objection to the request of the gen-
tleman from California?
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United States. Congress. Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 107th Congress, First Session, Volume 147, Part 12, book, 2001; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc31045/m1/34/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.