US embassy cable - 05HANOI464

UNCLAS HANOI 000464 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE ALSO FOR E, EB AND EAP/BCLTV 
STATE PASS USTR EBRYAN, GHICKS 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
DOC FOR 4431/MAC/AP/OPB/VLC/HPPHO 
GENEVA FOR USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, VM, WTO 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: CLARIFYING WTO LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS 
 
 
1. (SBU) This is an action request.  Please see para. 3. 
 
2. (SBU) While the GVN has the clear goal of WTO accession 
in December 2005, they do not comprehend all the 
requirements or steps to do so.  Recent conversations with 
GVN officials have shown that, except for the Ministry of 
Trade, the GVN does yet not understand the importance or the 
difficulty in preparing legislation needed for WTO accession 
or the timetable for doing so.  The Prime Minister's 
Research Council has been working under the assumption that 
completing draft legislation a year from now would be 
sufficient.  Diplomatic colleagues have reported similar 
findings.  As DUSTR Byran determined during her visit last 
month, neither the National Assembly nor the other 
ministries understand the gravity of the situation.  The 
Ministry of Trade is focused on market access negotiations 
and does not have the clout to energize other ministries. 
 
3. (SBU) To get the message clearly to the GVN and speed up 
their legislative efforts, we need to be able to explain 
simply but clearly what the GVN needs to do in terms of 
legislation.  For example, it would useful to list which 
laws must be brought into compliance with WTO and which new 
laws must be passed.  Post requests that the Department and 
Washington agencies provide such guidance. 
 
MARINE 
 
 
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