Vietnam: GVN textile quota counter proposal

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