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