From: Nhan Tran <tran@peora.sdc.ccur.com>
Subject: NEWS/VN: Urges US to go further in easing trade restrictions
Originator: anh@media-lab.media.mit.edu
Organization: SCV Relay
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:05:07 GMT


12/16

Vietnam urges U.S. to go further in easing trade restrictions

   BANGKOK, Thailand (UPI) -- Vietnam Wednesday described Washington's easing 
of trade sanctions as "only another step" and called on the United States to 
lift its embargo against Hanoi and normalize relations with its former enemy.
   "Vietnam, now as before, is always cooperative in settling the humanitarian
issues," state-run Voice of Vietnam radio said. "At the same time, it looks
toward the future for the normalization of relations between the two countries
for the interests of the two peoples and American business circles."
   The White House on Monday announced the United States will permit American
firms to sign contracts with Vietnam to be executed should the 17-year-old U.S.
embargo against Hanoi be lifted.
   White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the government also will permit
U.S. firms to begin opening commercial transactions relating to contracts,
hiring and opening offices that will be implemented under a more liberal
licensing policy.
   The move to establish more friendly ties with Hanoi in the aftermath of the
Vietnam War was recommended by a special panel headed by Gen. John Vessey and 
by the Senate Select Committee on Prisoners of War and Missing in Action 
Affairs chaired by Senator John Kerry. Vietnam recently has became more 
accommodating in providing information concerning the fate of U.S. POWs and 
MIAs.
   Sen. Kerry, D--Mass., is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi Thursday for a two-day
visit to conclude the committee's report on the issue.
   The Voice of Vietnam said Vietnamese officials on Monday handed over to U.S.
representatives the remains and personal effects of 20 more American MIAs.
   In a separate commentary, the radio said "at present, some large companies 
of the U.S., including leading banks, law, oil and gas, telecommunications and
aviation companies, have carried out studies ... and are ready to visit Vietnam
after the lifting of the U.S. trade sanctions or some of its restrictions.
   "However, this is only another step of the U.S. toward Vietnam. What the
people and the business circles of the two countries are waiting for is the
lifting of the embargo."
   American businessmen welcomed the U.S. government's announcement, but said
the Bush administration should have gone further.
   "The American Chamber of Commerce is very delighted at this move..," said 
Tom Seal, executive director of AmCham in Bangkok. "We're just disappointed 
that (the embargo) has not been lifted all the way."
   American companies will have to compete with Japanese and other Asian
businesses that are already well-established in Vietnam. However, analysts say
U.S. firms should not be left behind.
   American firms "are not as well positioned because they haven't been on the
ground as long, but they're not going to miss out on some of the key areas, the
oil industry in particular," said one Western business analyst based in Hanoi.
"Some areas have been reserved for American companies... ."
   "It's not that hard to get set up, particularly if you're a buyer and you're
buying, say, garments," he said. "You can use Vietnamese labor quite easily,
because the Russians have pulled out and Germans and Swiss are only here in a
small way. Americans can capitalize on that fairly quickly."