U'S' GSP for Vietnam

1
U.S. GSP for Vietnam

• Viet Tran
• Vietnam Trade Office
• Business Community Meeting, Washington DC, May
  2008

2
U.S. GSP Program

• Temporary duty free access to the U.S. market for
  certain products from qualified developing
  countries enacted in 1974.
• 140 beneficiary developing countries/territories
  (BDCs).
• Administered by USTR.
• Designation proclaimed, withdrawn, suspended or
  limited by the President.
• Expires on 12/31/2008, yet likely to be extended.

3
Why GSP

• Benefits for Vietnam
• Duty free access for eligible products.
• Strengthen business and investment environment.
• U.S. businesses can benefit too
• GSP-eligible products include most dutiable
  manufactures and semi-manufactures, and selected
  agricultural, fishery, and primary industrial
  products gt sourcing from Vietnam more easily,
  plus providing related services.
• Cumulation among ASEAN BDCs to meet the 35
  rule-of-origin requirement.
• Strengthen your ties with Vietnam and enhance
  your current position in Vietnam.
• Another channel of dialogue on bilateral trade
  and economic relations further promoting reforms
  in the business and investment environment in
  Vietnam.

4
How to get GSP

• The criteria
• Mandatory.
• Discretionary.
• The process
• The timing BTA, WTO, TIFA, and now GSP.
• Have formally presented the request to USTR.
• To focus on getting support of the U.S. business
  community, Congress, and GSP Subcommittee
  members.
• Federal Register notice seeking public comment on
  the request.

5
The criteria the case for Vietnam

• Vietnam receives U.S. PNTR, and is a member of
  both WTO and IMF.
• Vietnam does not and would not take any actions
  to withhold or disrupt commodity trade.
• Vietnam does not give preferential treatment to
  products of any developed country.
• U.S. investors are fully protected in Vietnam.
• As a member of New York Convention and soon to be
  member of ICSID, Vietnam respects arbitral
  awards.
• Vietnam has been a strong supporter of U.S. and
  global efforts to eliminate terrorism.
• Vietnam has been taking significant steps to
  afford internationally recognized worker rights,
  ratifying and implementing fundamental
  conventions of the ILO, particularly ILO
  Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child
  labor.
• Vietnam has a record of continuing progress to
  achieve effective IPR protection.
• Finally, all of the other major developed
  countries extend GSP to products of Vietnam. This
  includes the EU, Canada, Japan, Australia and
  others.

6
Your support and guidance

• Support and provide guidance to us in assuring
  that the U.S. Administration acts positively and
  promptly on our request.
• Respond in support of Vietnam to the Federal
  Register notice seeking public comment on our
  request.
• Let your Members of Congress know that it is a
  good thing to add Vietnam to the GSP Program.
• Let us know if you have any concerns or advice
  related to this issue.

7
Q A

• Vietnam Trade Office in Washington D.C.
• 1730 M Street, N.W., 501, Washington D.C.,
  20036
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail vinatrade_at_vietnam-ustrade.org
• Website www.vietnam-ustrade.org
•  
• Vietnam Trade Office in San Francisco
• 100 Pine Street Suite 605San Francisco. CA
  94109Tel [phone] 1197 Fax 415-989
  1197
• E-mail vinatrade-sf_at_vietnam-ustrade.org
•  
• Vietrade New York
• 7 West 36 Street, 600, New York, N.Y., 10018
• Tel [phone] Fax (212)
  868-2687
• E-mail vietrade-newyork_at_vietrade.gov.vn 

THANK YOU!