Withdrawal of PNTR may hinder entry to WTO, says Vitas
16 Aug '06
2 min read
The US Senators Elizabeth Dole and Linsay Graham have insisted that the grant of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to Vietnam should be suspended.
Reacting to this claim Le Quoc An, Chairman, Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) said that the country's textile and garment industry is not strong enough, yet, to threaten the US domestic production.
Meanwhile, this claim if executed could adversely affect Vietnam's chances to enter WTO.
However, he admitted that the action was not surprising since the Senators belonged to North and South Carolina states, which are the hubs for textile industry.
He also said that the withdrawal of this proposal was essential and Vietnam would have to talk with the senators.
Vietnam needs to explain them that textile share in the US is only 3.8 percent, which cannot create problems for the local industry.
As for the US companies and firms, many have openly supported Vietnam's grant of PNTR and around 150 corporations have backed entry to WTO.
Commenting on the demand to impose quota system on Vietnamese products, An protested saying that the US did not implement such scheme on other major suppliers like India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mexico or Hong Kong.
Le Quoc assured that the US would be allowed to inspect Government's subsidization of Vietnamese apparel exports, as long as it did not wait for the results to grant PNTR, causing its delay.
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