14 November 2006 by Brian Dear
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Vietnam trade bill defeated by US House |
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In a striking blow to free(er) trade principles, a bill in the US House of Representatives died after failing to receive the two-thirds majority required under special House rules. The bill would have normalized trade relations with Vietnam, thus paving the way for a Vietnamese entry into the World Trade Organization.
President Bush is due to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Hanoi next week. He had hoped to trumpet the passing of the bill as a milestone in opening up trade with the communist country. The Bush administration still has hopes for normalizing trade relations with Vietnam, although with the current political climate, it seems that the Republicans and Bush have a difficult path ahead. This defeat is a setback for the global economy, especially with Asia trade relations. As demonstrated in the Chinese model, trade is a proven way to open closed societies and to further the influence of freedom and democratic principles. Normalized trade relations with Vietnam could have been the crack through which democracy could slowly infiltrate Vietnamese society. |
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| Globalization | |
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| posted by Brian Dear at 2:07 AM ET | comments [3] | |
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| posted by Dian [ http://www.sourcingmag.com ] | 14 November 2006 at 3:29 PM ET |
Re: ...with the current political climate, it seems that the Republicans and Bush have a difficult path ahead..." From what I can tell, the Repubs are still in charge of Congress. There must be another reason this was dumped, Brian... |
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| posted by Dian [ http://www.sourcingmag.com ] | 15 November 2006 at 5:07 PM ET |
Here's part of a press release the Teamsters sent out regarding the defeat of the bill to "normalize" trade relations with Vietnam... "Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated the Administration's attempt to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to Vietnam. Big business and the administration thought that they could stifle debate and easily force this pact thru the lame-duck Congress, but they were unsuccessful. "The measure had majority support, 228-161, but it failed to garner the two-thirds needed to pass it on the suspension calendar. To bring this trade pact for a vote under the suspension calendar last night makes it loud and clear that the current Republican majority, soon to be minority, leadership, continue to be asleep at the wheel, and just don't understand the concerns of workers everywhere. "Last night's defeat demonstrates that many Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and their constituents are tired of trade pacts that sell out workers everywhere... "Vietnam is a communist country. There is no freedom of association, and if you speak out against the government or its businesses, you will be imprisoned. Vietnam PNTR will only benefit the multinational companies whom offshore there in order to take advantage of the dismal labor conditions and low pay that exists in Vietnam. It is shameful that some Members of Congress see a benefit in this." |
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| posted by Brian Dear [ http://superacidjax.blogspot.com ] | 16 November 2006 at 1:50 AM ET |
What the Teamsters fail to see is that a trade deal with Vietnam will mean more products would be shipped from Vietnam, which means that more longshoremen will be required to unload the ships and teamsters to drive the products from the docks in California to stores in Missouri. The unions have such an outdated view on trade.. they are trying to save their blacksmith job when an auto factory is being built next door! Vietnam being communist is even more reason to trade with them. Communism in Eastern Europe failed not because of war or sanctions. It failed because the free market slowly eroded the communist economic system. Basically, free trade bankrupted communism. It's trade that creates peace, not embargoes and bullets. |
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