Vietnam Advances Towards WTO Accession
Vietnam News - August 7, 2003
 
Vietnam has shown a strong commitment to join the WTO, but countries it is negotiating with for the purpose are waiting more practical offers from it in terms of trade measures.
 
Cato Adrian, WTO counsellor in the accessions division, and lead WTO official assisting the Vietnam Accession Working Party in Geneva, spoke to Vietnam News on the sidelines of the conference titled Moving Towards WTO Membership, which closed yesterday in Hanoi.
 
·        How would you assess Vietnam’s progress towards WTO accession?
 
Since 1998, we have definitely made a lot of progress, we are certainly well-advanced. But I would not say that we have entered the final part of the accession process yet.
 
All WTO commitments and resolutions that have been raised in talks are still open to negotiation.
 
·        Vietnam has presented its offer for WTO accession. Do you think it’s satisfactory?
 
I would not comment on whether they are satisfactory or not. Because these are negotiations with other members not with the secretariat, it is up to them to evaluate that, and to decide where they want improvements.
 
I have seen that negotiations are still not yet intense, which would be an indication that they are still waiting for Vietnam to make offers before they raise specific requests. We are not really in the final phase.
 
·        Does the bilateral trade agreement with the US have any role to play in these negotiations? Can Vietnam copy it for negotiations with other partners?
 
I would not say copy but you can take it and can build on it. There are provisions in the bilateral agreement (with the US) which relate directly to the WTO. However the context is slightly different, so you have to put it in the WTO context. But the legislation, whatever you are doing, would apply to the WTO as well.  The US will of course come back with new requests because they say: “This is about WTO, this is different concept.”
 
·        Do you really believe that Vietnam will get entry by 2005?
 
I am optimistic about that. I hear 2005 repeated constantly. Vietnam is strongly committed to it. Our members are committed. Nobody will really question Vietnam’s commitment. they are waiting for that political commitment to be translated into practical steps which show how Vietnam intends to get in by 2005 and whether these steps are acceptable to the members.
 
·        In what sectors should Vietnamese negotiations expect the toughest pressure?
 
When it comes to goods and services, it is all subject to bilateral negotiations. It is difficult to say where pressure would be hardest. But for such services as telecommunication and financial services there will be pressure because there’s a lot of an economic interest. But what types of liberalisation for what services in what form and by what time – that is something very difficult to predict.
 
·        What should the Government do to make businesses more involved in the negotiation?
 
I think it is important to share information widely, to make sure that those who may have an interest in WTO is informed of what is on the table. It takes time sometimes, and of course you can’t tell them everything.
 
Of course, there will be a price to pay. I’m not saying Vietnam will have to liberalize all sectors across the board. But there may be sectors which will get harmed because of  WTO obligations. That will be painful.
 
·        If you can share one of the most important experiences from China’s accession, what would it be?
 
China is special in many ways. But I would say China took a decision, they wanted to complete membership negotiations and were committed. I think it is important.
 
If you want to hold out for the protection you would like to have, you may not have accession.
Sometimes you will have to make up your mind that it is better to accede, and work towards it. That is what China did.