US embassy cable - 03HANOI823

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Identifier:	03HANOI823
Wikileaks:	View 03HANOI823 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Hanoi
Created:	2003-04-02 09:59:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags:	ETRD KTEX VM
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000823 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE ALSO PASS USTR SPOONER/MILLER 
USDOC FOR DAS JIM LEONARD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, KTEX, VM 
SUBJECT: Vietnam: GVN textile quota counter proposal 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified protect accordingly. 
 
2. (SBU) Post received a letter addressed to David Spooner, 
USTR Special Textile Negotiator, from the Vietnamese 
Ministry of Trade (MOT) dated April 02, 2003 forwarding the 
GVN counterproposal on textile quota levels.  The letter is 
signed by Nguyen Thanh Bien, Director General of the Trade 
Policy Department for Europe and America, who replaced Le 
Van Dao as Chief Negotiator for the Vietnamese side.  (Note 
Mr. Dao left MOT to work for the Vietnam Textile and Apparel 
Association (VITAS).)  Post will fax a copy of the letter to 
USTR and EAP/BCLTV at the Department of State. Text of the 
letter and counter proposal follows. 
 
3. (U) Begin text of letter - informal translation: 
 
Ministry of Trade 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
 
Hanoi, April 2, 2003 
 
Mr. David Spooner 
Special Textile Negotiator 
Executive Office of the President 
U.S. Trade Representative 
Washington, D.C. 
 
Dear Mr. Spooner, 
 
As specified in our note dated March 24, 2003 sent to the 
U.S. Embassy in Hanoi that Vietnam would produce its counter- 
proposal one week before the commencing date of 
negotiations, I hereby forward to you Vietnam's proposal on 
Annex B.  Our drafted text shall be handed over to the U.S. 
side during our talks in Washington. 
 
I hope that we will have productive and constructive 
discussions next week toward the completion of a mutually 
satisfactory deal. 
 
I am looking forward to working with you. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
(signed) 
Nguyen Thanh Bien 
Chief Negotiator 
 
End text of letter. 
 
4. (SBU) Begin text of counter proposal: 
 
Vietnam's Counter Proposal on Annex B 
 
Cat  Description         Units     2003           growth 
                                   quota          rate 
---  -----------         -----     -----          ------- 
 
200  Retail yarn         Kg        3,200,000      14% 
     Sewing thread 
 
301  Combed cotton       Kg        5,600,000      14% 
     Yarn 
 
332  Cotton Hosiery      Doz Pr.   5,000,000      14% 
 
333  Men/Boy suit-       Doz       100,000        14% 
     type coats 
 
342/ Skirts              Doz       4,900,000      14% 
642 
 
351/ Pajamas etc         Doz       4,000,000      14% 
651 
 
352/ Underwear           Doz       10,000,000     14% 
652 
 
359/ Swimwear            Kg        7,000,000      14% 
659S 
 
434  Men/Boy other       Doz       160,000        8% 
     wool coats 
 
435  Women/Girl          Doz       480,000        8% 
     wool coats 
 
440  Woven wool shirt    Doz       40,000         8% 
     and blouses 
 
447  Men/Boy wool        Doz       560,000        8% 
     Trousers 
 
448  Women/Girl          Doz       420,000        8% 
     wool trousers 
 
620  Woven Fabric        Sq Mt     56,000,000     14% 
     of other synthetic 
     Filament Yarn 
 
End text of counterproposal. 
 
BURGHARDT