U.S. Assistance to Vietnam Page: 2 of 15
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U.S. Assistance to Vietnam
Summary
U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic and economic relations were non-existent for more
than fifteen years following communist North Vietnam's victory in 1975 over U.S.
ally South Vietnam. Normalization of relations, particularly in the economic sphere,
between the United States and unified Vietnam began in earnest in the 1990s. As the
normalization process has proceeded, the U.S. has eliminated most of the Cold War-
era restrictions on U.S. aid to Vietnam, and U.S. assistance has increased markedly
from around $1 million when assistance was resumed in 1991 to nearly $50 million
in FY2004.
In recent years, many Members of Congress have become interested in linking
U.S. aid to the human rights situation in Vietnam. One initiative, H.R. 1587,
proposes capping existing non-humanitarian U.S. assistance programs to the
Vietnamese government at FY2004 levels if the President does not certify that
Vietnam is making "substantial progress" in human rights, including religious
freedom. In the near term, if enacted, the substantive impact of H.R. 1587 on U.S.
aid would likely be negligible because at present, no U.S. non-humanitarian
assistance is given directly to the government of Vietnam. Thus, if enacted, the bill's
principal impact is likely to be symbolic. Proponents of the measure argue that it
would pressure the Vietnamese government to improve the country's human rights
situation. Critics argue that the bill could chill the warming of bilateral political and
security ties that has been taking place slowly over the past several months. On July
19, 2004, the House passed H.R. 1587. Attempts to include stripped-down versions
of the measure in the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818) did not
succeed.
U.S. bilateral assistance programs are likely to come under additional scrutiny
in the future. At some point in the coming year or two, Congress is expected to
consider granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to Vietnam as part
of Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Hanoi has set a goal
of attaining WTO membership by the end of 2005.
This report quantifies and briefly describes U.S. assistance programs to
Vietnam. It includes an appendix detailing funding levels for U.S. aid programs.
The report will be updated periodically.
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Reference the current page of this Report.
Manyin, Mark E. U.S. Assistance to Vietnam, report, December 3, 2004; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7853/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.