United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab met in Washington on Monday
with Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of Vietnam's Office of Government,
for the first ministerial meeting under the US-Vietnam Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA).
The meeting was focused on Vietnam’s implementation of its World Trade
Organization (WTO) commitments, as well as on ways to further deepen trade and
investment relations between the United States and Vietnam.
“We are pleased with Vietnam’s progress to date in implementing
its WTO commitments and domestic reform agenda, which have generated striking
economic gains and steadily enhanced Vietnam’s regional and global economic
competitiveness,” Ambassador Schwab announced, continuing:
“We intend to remain actively engaged with Vietnam to support its ongoing
work and help ensure that implementation efforts stay on track.”
During the discussions, Ambassador Schwab underscored US interest in ensuring
that the commitments Vietnam made regarding its distribution and other service
sectors are implemented in a transparent and timely manner.
She also urged Vietnam to take additional steps to improve its enforcement
of intellectual property protection. In addition, the two ministers discussed
agriculture, telecommunications, textiles, and other trade and investment issues,
as well as Vietnam’s requests for further technical assistance to support
its reform efforts.
Ambassador Schwab and Minister Phuc welcomed the significant growth in bilateral
trade during the past year and the opportunity to further strengthen US-Vietnam
trade and investment relations.
Two-way goods trade between the United States and Vietnam totaled $10.2 billion
during the first 10 months of 2007, an increase of 25% over the same period
the previous year.
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