Renegotiation of U.S. trade pact opposed by Vietnam

Renegotiation of U.S. trade pact opposed by Vietnam

HANOI (DPA): Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong on Tuesday warned that any potential renegotiation by the United States of a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) would be "unsuitable."

On the sidelines of the opening session of the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislative body, Luong told reporters that Vietnam had done its fair share of negotiation on the deal, which was signed last summer after four years of talks.

"We consider re-consideration as unsuitable," Luong said, referring to recent references by officials that President George W. Bush wants to take a closer look at certain elements of the pact.

"We hope the Bush administration will do nothing to worsen relations between Vietnam and the United States," he added.

When asked if relations have been made worse, Luong said: "We have not concluded that, but we are watching carefully."

Hanoi has expressed mounting frustration in recent weeks over what it perceives as delays by the Bush administration to send the BTA up to Capitol Hill for ratification by the U.S. Congress, which has expressed broad bilateral support for the deal.

Vietnam Trade Minister Vu Khoan said last month that Vietnam may be forced to pull the most-favored nation status which U.S. firms currently enjoy in Vietnam if the BTA is not ratified soon.