Four days ahead of President Bush's scheduled first visit to Vietnam, a bill for normalizing trade relations with the country has been defeated in House of Representatives.
Two-thirds majority was required as per the special process implemented by House Republicans to pass the bill, but the legislation could not win it. It got 228 votes in its support, which was 32 less than required and 161 votes were in opposition.
Sources from Ways and Means Committee informed that Republicans will be retrying the bill under usual procedures which need a majority of 218 votes for passage.
US Senate is also against the bill. Government had to convince senators of textile producing states that if Vietnam is seen selling textile products at extremely cheap rates, it will force penalty taxes on them.
American retailers wanted assurance from the administration that anti-dumping taxes would not be imposed uncontrollably to keep away local products from US outlets.
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