July 21-22: Andy Shoyer's working visit with MOIT on Transpacific partnership, MONRE on Climate change, and MPI on bilateral investment treaty, sponsored with the support of the GE Foundation
Read Andy Shoyer's Climate Change Presentation, U.S. Climate Change Legislation and Regulation - State of Play and Cross-Border Aspects [pdf][ppt]
Read Andy Shoyer's BIT Presentation, How Foreign Investors Use Investment Treaty Protections [ppt]
Read Andy Shoyer's TPP Presentation Materials [pdf][pdf][pdf]
July 16-18: Deputy USTR Ambassador Demetrios Marantis working visit to Hanoi
June 17-25: MALAYSIA - USA Women Soccer Exchange Program 2009
April 27: USVTC and EDF sponsored a program for the Vietnamese National Assembly on global climate change negotiations, with Peter Goldmark and other experts from EDF visiting Hanoi
April 20-21: Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat visits Washington, DC
April 16-17: US-Vietnam TIFA talks in Washington, DC
March - April: Michael McNamer provides technical assistance on the public comment provisions of the Law on Laws, with support from a GE Foundation grant
June 24-27, 2008: Vietnamese Prime Minister visits the United States
June 22 – 28, 2008; Infrastructure for WTO Vietnam in the WTO Economy; Ho Chi Minh City, China and Singapore
June 16-20, 2008: Business Development Mission to Vietnam led by Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. Commercil Service Israel Hernandez Click here for more details of this Mission
May 11-23, 2008:
Study Mission on Metrology, Accreditation, Standard and Quality (MAS-Q)
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Click here for more details of this Mission
April 4 - 12, 2008 in Washington, DC: Study Mission on Rule of Law and Legislative Reforms. Click here for more details about this study mission
Mid March 2008 in Hanoi, Da Nang, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City: Introductory Seminars of U.S.-Vietnam Business Leadership & Development Exchange Program.
Click here for more details about this program and the application process
November 11-15: USVTC-EF helps to organize the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. sponsored journalism trip to Vietnam
Click here for more details about this trip and related articles
November 8: USVTC Executive Director and CEO Robert Schiffer Presents at KFWB News 980 International Business Breakfast Series Emerging Markets: Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam Click here for more details about this event
September 12, 2007: USVTC President Virginia B. Foote is presented with the insignia for Peace and Friendship among Nations.
Click here (VNS, VNN) for News Articles about this event.
July 26, 2007: USVTC President Virginia B. Foote was awarded the Vietnam President's Friendship Medal by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
This is the largest-scaled US business mission to Vietnam since the December 2006 passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) between the US and Vietnam and Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization in January, 2007. This mission takes place just after Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister's visit to the US, and just before the visit of of the of Vietnam’s, Prime Minister Nguyen Minh Triet, later this summer.
March 26-28: USVTC organized workshops on Good Governance in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
March 29: US Ambassadors Tour Dinner, Washington, DC
The Honorable Charles B. Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, will be our guest of honor and keynote speaker. The Council's Tour Dinner is the culmination of its US Ambassadors Tour -- a country-wide tour by our envoys to ASEAN. This year, the delegation includes our Ambassadors to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Dinner has also become the nation's principal annual forum focused specifically on Southeast Asia. It is always highly anticipated and well attended, with more than 400 leaders from business, government, the think-tank community and media attending.
March 16: Luncheon in honor of H.E. Pham Gia Kiem. Washington, DC
Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and an important delegation from Vietnam will be in Washington, DC and are pleased to meet with members of the US business community. This is the first high-level delegation from Vietnam since the country's accession into the World Trade Organization and the passage of PNTR with the United States. To read more about Deputy Prime Minister Khiem, please click here.
March 15: Meeting with Vice Minister of Post & Telematics of Vietnam, Mr. Vu Duc Dam. Washington, DC.
Mr. Vu is part of the visiting delegation of the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Pham Gia Kiem.
February 5: ICT Working Group Meeting with David Bisbee, Senior Director, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, USTR. Ho Chi Minh City.
In July 2006, Vietnam issued Decision 169 requiring procurement tenders in the IT sector to include at least local content value of at least 30%. Decision 169 was amended in September 2006 as a result of some pressure brought to bear by US IT companies in the context of Vietnam’s WTO accession negotiations. The amendments stated priority placed on the use of open source software, and priority given to “foreign contractors which join with Vietnamese contractors and have commitments to give Vietnamese contractors a larger amount of work or have the plan to use more domestic product.” We realize the amended Decision continues to be problematic and hope that you will be able to provide your input to USTR during this meeting on how this should be addressed.
January 11: Vietnam WTO Accesssion Celebration. Washington, DC.
Vietnam has formally become the 150th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Sponsorship opportunities are available
2006
December 29: Proclamation by President Bush to extend nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Vietnam. Washington, DC.
December 8-9: U.S. House and Senate passed legislation for Vietnam PNTR. Washington, DC.
November 28 - December 7: Steering Committee Study Mission. Washington, DC
More details will follow.
November 21: Meeting on Vietnam WTO Accession & Update on PNTR. Singapore
Ms. Virginia Foote will be joining the Government and Regional Affairs Committee meeting with AmCham Singapore and will be providing updates on the status of PNTR for Vietnam, Vietnam's imminent membership in the WTO and will brief members on some of the outcomes of President Bush's November visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
November 18-19: APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam.
November 17-19: APEC CEO Summit. Vietnam
The US ASEAN Business Council chairs the US APEC Business Coalition in 2006.
November 16: United States - Vietnam Plenary. Hanoi
The US-APEC Business Coalition invites our members to the United States - Vietnam Forum with Keynote Address by His Excellency Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and discussion with Economic Ministers.
November 12-17: Study Mission on Notaries Public. Bangkok and Singapore
November 2: Briefing with U.S. officials on APEC. Washington, DC
The US-APEC Business Coalition is pleased to invite you to participate in a briefing with U.S. Senior Official for APEC Ambassador Michael Michalak; Assistant USTR for Japan, Korea and APEC Affairs Wendy Cutler; and Director for Asian Economic Affairs, National Security Council Kurt Tong. The officials have graciously accepted the Coalition’s invitation to brief us on the United States’ policy agenda and objectives for the upcoming APEC meetings in Hanoi
October 23: Breakfast Meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Ana Guevara. Ho Chi Minh City.
Please join us for an off-the-record breakfast and meeting with Ms. Ana Guevara, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services in the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Guevara has requested an intimate meeting with Council Members involved in various service industries in Vietnam to discuss company activities and experiences
October 10: Meeting with Vietnamese delegation led by Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat. Washington, DC.
Vice Minister Nguyen Bich Dat from Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment is leading a large multi-ministerial delegation to visit the U.S. to discuss investment issues in Vietnam and the country’s accession to the WTO. From October 9 to 17, the delegation will hold meetings with U.S. investors, corporations as well as some U.S. government offices in Washington, DC, Chicago and San Francisco.
October 3: Breakfast briefing with Ambassador Marine. Washington, DC
US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Marine is visiting Washington DC for the annual Chiefs of Missions Conference and has agreed to provide a briefing to members of the US-Vietnam WTO Coalition
September 7-8: APEC Finance Ministers Meeting. Hanoi.
In recognition of the evolution in global and regional macroeconomic developments, economic integration and unique characteristics of each APEC economy, this year's FMM will address the following policy themes: (1)Promoting Public Finance Efficiency and Sustainability: Towards Stable and Efficient Revenue Sources; and (2) Financial Sector Reform to Attract Capital Flows - with a view to seeking ways to promote more stable and efficient revenue sources in the region and facilitating capital flows from developed to developing member economies. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will join this meeting and use this opportunity to expand the US dialogue with the major economies in the Asia-Pacific region. . In addition to bilateral meetings with his counterparts attending the APEC meetings, Secretary Paulson expects to meet with Vietnamese officials who are leading the country's reform program and integration into the global economy.
September 6-17: APEC SOM III Meetings. Da Nang, Hanoi, Vietnam.
September 6-7: APEC 4th Life Sciences Innovation Forum. Da Nang, Vietnam
The APEC Life Sciences and Innovation Forum (LSIF) will hold its annual meeting in Hoi An, Vietnam. During the meeting, USABC will host a breakfast meeting for members and forum participants.
August 31: 8th IPR Seminar: Border Enforcement of IPR. Ho Chi Minh City.
USVTC is working in collaboration with the General Sciences Library to organize the 8th Seminar in our IPR Seminar Series. The August 31 morning seminar will focus on ""Border Enforcement of IPR"". Special guest speakers will include Mr. Peter Fowler - Senior Counsel, USPTO Office of Enforcement, Thomas J. Treutler - Managing Partner, The Law Offices of Thomas J. Treutler, and a Vice Director of the HCMC Customs Department. At the seminar, we hope to focus on the following topics: (1) international best practices in border enforcement of IPR; (2) the legal basis for IPR border enforcement in Vietnam; (3) roles and responsibilities of Vietnam Customs Officials in enforcing IP at the border; (4) current practices and experiences enforcing IP at the border - case study examples. For press release, click here
July 31: Senate Finance Committee approves PNTR for Vietnam. Washington, DC
For vote record, click here
July 27: Senate Finance Committee Markup on Vietnam PNTR. Washington, DC
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Grassley wishes to inform Members that the Committee will meet in Open Executive Session on Thursday, July 27, 2006, to review and make recommendations on proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, and to consider favorably reporting S. 3495, to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Vietnam. For the official notice, click here
July 12: Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Vietnam PNTR. Washington, DC
July 10-14: National Assembly Working Visit to the US. Washington, DC
The National Assembly delegation led by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Vu Mao visits Washington, DC from July 10-14 to dicuss the impact of Vietnam’s WTO accession on US-Vietnam relations. For the schedule of their visit, click here
June 27: Vietnam's WTO Accession: Breakfast meeting with Senator Baucus. Washington, DC
Senator Max Baucus, who is a co-sponsor of legislation to grant Vietnam PNTR status, will discuss the benefits of Vietnam's WTO membership and the prospects for Congressional approval. Senator Baucus is a ranking member on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight over U.S. trade policy. He is also a senior member of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Senate Agriculture Committee. This event is co-hosted by the Asia Society, USVTC and USABC, and is sponsored by Chevron. For more information click here
June 13: Congressional Rollout for Vietnam’s PNTR. Washington, DC
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and congressional co-sponsors discuss Senate and House bills granting Vietnam permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) and Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The U.S. and Vietnam officially signed a comprehensive bilateral agreement for Vietnam’s WTO accession on May 31, 2006 and Vietnam is on track to become a full member of the WTO before it hosts the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperative (APEC) Summit in November. For the media advisory click here
June 14: Briefing on APEC CEO Summit Preparations by the Organizing Committee. Washington, DC
APEC CEO Summit Organizing Committee Executive Director Mr. Nguyen Van Thao and his staff will visit Washington and brief US-APEC Coalition Members on June 14. Mr. Thao will update us on the state of preparations for the APEC CEO Summit and answer any questions
June 12: Fullbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) Seminar Funded by US-Vietnam Trade Council and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF). Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
High level government officials, policy experts, analysts, and business representatives will attend a full-day seminar on "The Current State of the Legal Institutions and Policies Supporting the Development of Large Internationally Competitive Vietnamese Enterprises." US-Vietnam Trade Council Executive Vice President Bob Schiffer will speak on "The Board view: Opportunities and Challenges facing Vietnamese enterprises in the context of WTO accession."
June 12: WTO Coalition Meeting with VN National Assembly Delegation on PNTR. Washington, DC
The Vietnamese National Assembly Delegation will meet with the US-Vietnam WTO Coalition to discuss the overall US-Vietnam relationship as well as issues related to Vietnam’s PNTR and WTO accession. The delegation includes: H.E. Ton Nu Thi Ninh, Vice Chairwoman – International Relations Committee H.E. Vu Xuan Hong, Member – International Relations Committee & Chairman Vietnam-US Caucus H.E. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, Member – Economic & Budget Committee H.E. Pham Quang Du, Member – Economic & Budget Committee H.E. Vu Tien Loc, Member – Economic & Budget Committee & Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director – International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).
June 2: Briefing by Deputy USTR Karan Bhatia. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ambassador Bhatia will visit Hochiminh City to meet with U.S. Business representatives about APEC and U.S. Trade policy/strategy with APEC member countries.
May 31 - June 1: APEC Business Symposium on “An Enabling Environment for Trade and Investment”. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) will be meeting on June 1-2, 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to discuss key global and regional issues, notably the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA), FTAs, RTAs, and, the Busan Business Agenda, including key policy priorities in trade facilitation and investment. The US-APEC Business Coalition, led by the US-ASEAN Business Council, is working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Trade to help organize a Business Symposium on May 31-June 1 in HCMC. Expected to be part of the official program for the MRT meeting, the symposium will bring together experts from the APEC business community to discuss how to move the trade and investment agenda forward
May 8: Roundtable Discussion with Vietnam National Assembly Delegation on High-Tech Promotion. Washington, DC.
A group of ten high-level Vietnamese government officials involved in drafting the upcoming High-Tech Ordinance will be visiting Washington, D.C. from May 6-10. While the main goal for their visit is to survey U.S. government policies and the legal framework promoting the advancement of science and technology, the delegation would also like to have the opportunity to meet with our Council members to discuss the coordination of the public and private sectors in supporting innovations. The delegation would like to discuss the roles of education policies, IPR laws, investment policies, financial incentives (such as special tax treatments), and policies with regards to the establishment and operation of hi-tech parks and technology incubators
April 12: WITA Diplomatic Series "Vietnam: From Bilateral Trade Agreement to WTO accession". Washington, DC.
Washington International Trade Association, FedEx Express, and the US-Vietnam Trade Council are pleased to announce WITA Diplomatic Series Event "Vietnam: From Bilateral Trade Agreement to WTO accession." Deputy Chief of Mission Vu Dang Dzung will speak about the development of Vietnam as a trading partner, tracing their ascent from the US Bilateral Trade Agreement to their upcoming accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as the Vietnamese role as Chair of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). To register for the event click here.
April 6: Briefing by Ms. Dorothy Dwoskin, Assistant USTR for WTO, Office of the US Trade Representative. Washington, DC.
The WTO negotiation team from USTR has agreed to brief the Council’s member companies on the outcome of this latest round of talks. The Vietnam’s WTO Working Party convened earlier last week in Geneva for the 11th round of the multilateral negotiations. Vietnam told the working party that it reached agreements with Honduras and the Dominican Republic and was “very close to a final deal” with the US
March 17: Discussion with Vietnamese Delegation on Standards. Washington, DC
A group of seven senior Vietnamese Government Officials from the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Directorate of Standards and Quality will be conducting a Standards Initiative Orientation Visit to the US from March 11-17 under TDA funding. The purpose of this visit is to study US standards and develop a relationship with US standard setting authorities. This visit comes at a critical time as Vietnam's standards organizations are working to revise their industrial law.
March 8-11: Senior Executives Trade Mission to Vietnam. Vietnam
Matthew Daley, President of US-ASEAN Business Council, and Virginia B. Foote, Executive Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council and President of the US-Vietnam Trade Council will lead a Senior Executives Trade Mission to Vietnam. The delegation will be in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8-9 and Hanoi on March 9-11. For a mini report of the trip click here
March 1: Briefing by Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta. Washington, DC
Mr. Pradeep Mehta is the Secretary General of the Consumer Union and Trust Society (CUTS) of India, a leading economic think tank & NGO in the developing world. CUTS' Centers for International Trade, Economics and the Environment, and Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation conduct research and capacity building activities on trade and economic policy in developing nations throughout the world. CUTS is playing an active technical assistance and capacity building role in the development and enforcement of domestic competition laws and policies in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR. Mr. Mehta's briefing will offer a first hand perspective on the role of such laws and policies in promoting economic growth in those societies and their implications for foreign private companies doing business in these economies.
February 28: Discussion by H.E. Nguyen Tam Chien, Ambassador E.P. of Vietnam. Washington, DC
Ambassador Nguyen will discuss “Working Together for Vietnam’s WTO Membership”.
February 10: USTR Briefing on Vietnam's WTO Negotiations. Washington, DC
January 29: Tet Nguyen Dan. Vietnam
Holiday, Vietnam
January 18, 2006: WTO Negotiation Debriefing with USTR. Hanoi
The U.S. WTO negotiation team from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative conclude the latest round of bilateral talks in Hanoi on January 18th and have very kindly agreed to debrief U.S. companies on the outcome of this round of negotiations before leaving Hanoi on Wednesday night.
January 17: Breakfast Meeting with USTR WTO Team to Vietnam. Hanoi
The Council and AmCham will be hosting a breakfast meeting between US company representatives and the USTR negotiating team in Hanoi on January 17. This event is open only to member companies
2005
December 7: IPR Seminar Series: Settlement of IPR Disputes in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library, US-Vietnam Trade Council is organizing a half-day seminar highlighting case study examples for settling IPR disputes in Vietnam, including the steps and procedures, examples of successful IPR convictions, lessons learned and best practices. Speakers will include Mr. Thomas Truetler from Baker & McKenzie and a Judge from the Economic Court of HCMC.
December 3-12: Vietnam Securities Market Development Study Mission. Washington, DC and New York City.
USAID, via STAR-Vietnam is supporting this study mission to the US to study implementation of Vietnam's securities commitments under the BTA, particularly in regards to regulatory oversight of the securities sector in a liberalized market. Delegates also hope to obtain knowledge in developing the legal and regulatory framework governing the financial sector towards international trends and to share experiences with U.S. counterparts from a policy-making perspective.
November 8-9: Ho Chi Minh City Investment Mart 2005. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Under the sponsorship of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, The Investment and Trade Promotion Center is organizing a seminar, workshop and exhibition of current and future investment projects in HCMC. There will be opportunities for potential investors and concerned business people to meet and talk with leaders of the central and City government, and learn about 120 investment projects calling for FDI in four key areas: technical infrastructure and industries, real estate, hi-techs and service. For more information click here
October 28: Amb. Michael Marine Meeting with US business community in L.A.. Los Angeles, CA
USVTC will help organize a meeting with the US business community for US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine during his visit to Los Angeles, October 26-29, 2005. During this visit, the Ambassador will also meet with the mayor of LA, UCLA/USC faculty and students, and members of the Vietnamese American community in Orange County
October 10-14: Vietnam Customs Study Mission to Singapore. Singapore
To assist Vietnam on the drafting of its decree on E-Customs, USVTC is pleased to be hosting the Vietnam General Department of Customs on a study mission to Singapore. The program is a follow up to assistance provided on the draft Customs Law Amendments conducted through study missions to the U.S. and Singapore in December 2004 and January 2005 respectively. This mission is jointly funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Educational Exchange (ECA) and the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
September 27: Dong Nai Investment Promotion Seminar. Washington, DC
USVTC is working with Georgetown University to support the Dong Nai Province's trade promotion seminar in Washington, DC on September 27th. Dong Nai is one of the fastest growing industrial regions in Vietnam with recent GDP growth of 13%. Its industrial zones house companies such as Cargill, Exxon Mobil, Nike, Fujitsu, OPV, Formosa, and many small- and medium- sized enterprises in information technology, food processing, footwear manufacturing, construction, and other services and manufacturing industries. The program will be presented by a delegation of Dong Nai 30 business people and government officials, with representatives from US government agencies to assist in establishing import and export businesses and investments
September 26 - October 6: Vietnam Enforcement of Judgments Study Mission. San Francisco and Washington DC
As part of the technical assistance in support of judicial reform for Vietnam, USVTC and USAID's STAR Project will host a delegation led by Vice Minister of Justice Nguyen Thi Thu Ba on a study mission to San Francisco and Washington DC in September 2005. Participants from the Ministry of Justice, Police, Supreme Court and National Assembly will also be included. This study mission is expected to support Vietnam's efforts to draft a new Judgment Enforcement Code in order to give administrative agencies and the courts the legal tools to enforce court judgments effectively.
September 14: USVTC 6th IPR Seminar - "Provisional Measures of IPR Disputes". Ho Chi Minh City
The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and the Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library will organize the 6th of our seminar series on intellectual property rights. The upcoming program will focus on "Provisional Measures of IPR Disputes". The IPR seminar series focuses on legal and practical aspects of intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. Participants will include government officials, lawyers, judges, faculty members and students from local universities
July 31 - August 6: Unified Enterprise Law Study Mission. Washington, DC, Delaware and Massachusetts
USVTC is working with STAR-Vietnam to help organize a study mission to support Vietnam’s efforts to draft a new Unified Enterprise Law that complies with commitments under the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization. For more information, click here.
July 27 - August 6: Administrative Review and Judicial Appeal Study Mission. Denver, CO, Washington, DC and New York, NY
The mission will examine the appeal, review and correction of administrative actions and decisions in the United States. Specifically, the delegation will look at federal and state administrative appeal systems and court reviews of federal and state level decisions, particularly those relating to WTO and international commitments of the United States. For more information, click here.
June 21-24: USVTC – NZAID Legal Reform and WTO Workshops. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Under the funding of New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID), USVTC is pleased to be working with the University of Victoria School of Law to organize workshops for Vietnamese officials in Hanoi (June 21 & 22) and Ho Chi Minh City (June 23 & 24) on legal reform and the WTO.on Legal Reform and the WTO
June 21: Dinner in honor of H.E. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam. Washington, DC
June 21: BUSINESS FORUM "Trade and Investment: Bilateral US-Vietnam Economic Relations Ten Years After Normalization". Washington, DC
June 19-25: H.E. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam, Visit to the U.S.. Seattle; Washington, DC; New York, Boston
The U.S.-ASEAN Business Council and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council are co-organizing a Gala Dinner in Washington, DC, on June 21st and a business forum luncheon in New York City on June 23rd for the delegation, U.S. government officials and U.S. companies. We are also supporting the Vietnamese Embassy and VCCI in their efforts to plan the rest of the Prime Minister's trip as well as events that will be organized to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of renewed US-Vietnam relations. Click here for the Press Kit of the Prime Minister's visit.
June 12-19: USVTC Omnibus Bill Study Mission to Washington, DC. Washington, DC
To assist Vietnam in drafting and enacting an omnibus law in compliance with its WTO commitments, the trade council is working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice, National Assembly and the Office of the Government to organize an Omnibus Bill Study Mission for Vietnamese officials. The primary focus of the trip will be to study the U.S. experience in implementing international commitments, the role of the Congress and its committees, and most importantly to learn how an omnibus law is drafted, examined, approved and implemented thereafter
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April 28: U.S. Ambassador’s Roundtable on IPR Issues in Vietnam. Click here for more info. Hanoi
Ambassador Michael Marine is hosting a roundtable for U.S. Companies on IPR enforcement and market access issues on April 28 in Hanoi. The Roundtable will provide a forum for US companies to discuss IPR priorities and to help the US Government to develop a long-term strategy for engagement with the Government of Vietnam. In preparation for this event, the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council & Education Forum is working with the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General to collect feedback from U.S. companies in order to assess market access impediments and IPR problems specifically associated with doing business in Vietnam.
April 21: Trade Council Members Meeting with the National Security Council. Wasington, DC
A meeting is scheduled with Michael Green, Asia Director of the National Security Council, for the representatives of USVTC’s member companies to discuss current bilateral and multilateral issues with Vietnam including the tentative visit for Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in June of this year, and also Vietnam’s bid to accede to the World Trade Organization this year.
April 19: Meeting with Vietnam's Municipal Government Officials. Washington, DC
Under the auspices of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, a Hanoi delegation of eighteen municipal government officials and business leaders will be touring the United States from April 16 – 23. While visiting Washington, DC, the delegation has expressed their interest in meeting with representatives of USVTC and USABC’s member companies to promote cooperation in business, trade, investment, urban planning, educational exchanges in scientific research and training, and also to seek sister city relations with a U.S. city.
March 31: Luncheon with H.E. Le Bang, Vietnam Foreign Affairs Vice Minister and Former Ambassador to the United States of America. Washington
Vice Minister Le Bang, Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his short visit to Washington, DC, has agreed to give an update to member of the business community on the recent highlights of the U.S.- Vietnam relations. Members will have the opportunity to discuss further the issues relating to the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Vietnam’s WTO accession and other bilateral issues.
March 26 - April 5: Congressional Staff Delegation at the Offices of the Government during their visit. Vietnam
The US-Vietnam Trade Council organized a Congressional Staff Delegation Visit to Hanoi, Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City, where four Congressional staffers met with Vietnam's government officials and private sector. The visit is generously supported by ACE Insurance, AIG, The Boeing Company, Citigroup, Liberty Mutual, and New York Life.
February 24: IPR Seminar Series: Translation and Reproduction of Copyrighted Literary Works. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The US Foreign Commercial Service and USVTC-EF will co-host and IPR seminar on literary copyright licensing. The seminar will be held at the New World Hotel and an evening reception will be hosted at the General Sciences Library. Participants will include Vietnamese printing companies, bookstores, librarians and legal professionals. The purpose of the seminar is to explain the nuts and bolts of obtaining a license and initiate negotiations between local and foreign publishers.
February 23: IPR Seminar: Registering Patents and Filing Patent Claims in the United States. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
A seminar on patent procedures in the United States for faculty of the HCMC University of Law and participants in the NOIP sponsored IPR training course held at the HCM University of Law.
February 23: IPR Seminar: Patent Protection and Enforcement. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Seminar at the Bar Association on "Patent Protection & Enforcement." Mr. Peter Fowler (USPTO) will meet with members and judges to discuss the legal basis for protection & enforcement, the role of government agencies and provisional measures and penalties for infringements.
February 16: Briefing with Elena Bryan – USTR Deputy Assistant for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs. Washington, DC.
Ms. Elena Bryan, Deputy Assistant USTR for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs, will give a briefing to members of the business community on her recent visit to Vietnam. Vietnam has set a target of December 2005 for WTO accession. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the issues relating to BTA implementation as well as Vietnam's WTO accession.
January 18-21: USVTC/ECA Customs Study Mission to Singapore. Singapore
January 18: Former USTR Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky visit to Hanoi. Hanoi
US-Vietnam Trade Council and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Hanoi, organized a conference which featured Former USTR Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky. Click here for her speech entitled "U.S.- Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Opportunities and Challenges".
2004
December 21: USVTC 4th IPR Seminar on "Copyright Protection In Vietnam". Hanoi
December 15: Vietnam WTO Working Party Meeting. Geneva
December 3-13: USVTC/ECA Study Mission on Customs & Trade Facilitation. Washington, New York, & Seattle
US-Vietnam Trade Council in pursuant by a grant from the US Department of State's Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs (ECA) organized a study mission for delegation from the Vietnam General Department of Customs. For more information, click here
November 30: Department of Commerce Shrimp Final Determination. Click here for results of the Department of Commerce final determination issued November 30, 2004 in the investigation of shrimp imports from Vietnam and China
November 26: Vietnam & Singapore conclude WTO bilateral negotiations.
November 24: US-Vietnam Trade Council to Work Towards Joining the US-ASEAN Business Council.
USVTC President Virginia Foote to take on role of Executive Vice President for the US-ASEAN Business Council. Click here for the Press Release
August 12: USVTC/HCMC General Sciences Library IPR Seminar Series: "Trademark Protection" and "Copyright Workshop for Librarians"
August 2 - 8: USVTC Seminar on International Trade Law conducted by David Gantz - George Washington University Law School for Hanoi Law University and Ho Chi Minh University of Law
August 7: USVTC Workshop on Trade Remedies for HCMC Bar Association conducted by Professor David Gantz
August 6: USVTC Workshop on Investor State Arbitration for Ministry of Justice conducted by David Gantz
August 4: Trade Council Meeting with U.S. Ambassador Designate to Vietnam Michael Marine
August 3: Trade Council Meeting with Assistant Secretary of State James A. Kelly
July 19: U.S. House Floor Vote on H.R. 1587 - Vietnam Human Rights Act.
U.S.-Vietnam Congressional Caucus Letter Urging Non-Support of H.R. 1587.
U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Letter to Members of Congress
July 6: U.S. Department of Commerce Assesses Preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on imports of shrimp from Vietnam and China.
June 28 - July 2: USVTC / Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Workshop on Vietnam WTO Accession
June 23: Workshop for Ho Chi Minh Bar Association conducted by Ambassador Richard Fisher €“ USVTC Senior Advisor to the Board
June 15: Vietnam WTO Working Party Meeting in Geneva, June 15. Trade Council hosts reception in honor of Vice Minister Luong Van Tu and Vietnam WTO Negotiation Team.
June 15: Closing of 5th Session of Vietnam 's National Assembly XI, May 11 - June 15, 2004
June 8: Trade Council hosts briefing and luncheon in honor of Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen.
June 3: President Bush signs letter to Congress renewing the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam.
June 2: "Do Visa Delays Hurt U.S. Business?" - Survey results and analysis on behalf of Aerospace Industry Association, American Council of International Personnel, Association for Manufacturing Technology, and Coalition for Employment through Exports, National Foreign Trade Council, U.S.-China Business Council, U.S.-Russia Business Council, and U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council.
June 1: Phillips Fox Launches Vietnam Law Database, www.vietnamlaws.com
May 17 - 21: U.S.-Vietnam BTA Joint Committee Meeting in Washington, DC.
May 20: Meeting for Trade Council Members with Deputy USTR Josette Shiner.
May 20: USVTC and Embassy of Vietnam reception in honor of Vice Minister of Trade Luong Van Tu on the occasion of the U.S. Vietnam BTA Joint Committee
May 20: USVTC Memo on MFN and Textile Agreements
May 18: USVTC Update of Recent and Upcoming Activities
May 13: U.S. Department of Commerce Summary of Investigation into U.S. Data from Vietnam used to determine Quotas in the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Textile Agreement.
May 12: U.S. House of Representatives Passes H. Con. Res. 378 Urging the Release of Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly
May 12: USVTC Seminar on " Vietnam 's Participation in International IPR Agreements", Ho Chi Minh City.
May 7: USVTC Memo on PNTR for Vietnam
May 7: USVTC Memo on Trading & Distribution Rights. Click here to download in Vietnamese - Tieng Viet
May 7: USVTC Memo on the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA)
May 6: Confirmation by the Senate, Michael W. Marine, of Vermont, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
May 3: USTR Special 301 Reports.
April 30: Vietnam 's National Assembly Passes Anti-dumping Ordinance. Click here to see full text of this Ordinance.
April 29: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Vote for Ambassadorial Nominees, including Ambassador Designate to Vietnam, Michael Marine. Senate floor vote still required.
April 28: Reception marking the establishment of the Vietnam Congressional Caucus. Caucus Mission Statement.
April 22: Confirmation Hearings for U.S. Ambassador Designate to Vietnam, Michael Marine, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
April 18 - 30: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Law Faculty visit to Kansas University, George Washington University, Georgetown University and National University of Singapore
April 13: Trade Council meeting with John Boardman - Deputy Chief of Mission (Beginning Summer 2004), U.S. Embassy, Hanoi.
April 5 - 8: WTO Deputy Director General Rufus Yerxa visits Hanoi to work with Vietnam 's WTO Negotiation Team . Meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Minister of Trade Truong Dinh Tuyen and other senior government officials. WTO Luncheon hosted by Embassy of New Zealand.
April 2 - 4: USVTC off-site staff retreat in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the Establishment of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, Nha Trang, Vietnam
March 28 - 31: USVTC/USAID Study Mission on Financial Services, Budget Restructuring and Fiscal Policy
March 6 - 21: USVTC and Georgetown University Law Center WTO Program for Delegation from National Committee for International Economic Cooperation (NCIEC), Washington, DC and New York, NY.
March 17: Joint Workshop on WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism for HCM University of Law and Ho Chi Minh Bar Association by Victoria Donaldson - WTO Appellate Body Secretariat
March 8: Workshop on WTO Dispute Settlement for Hanoi Law University by Victoria Donaldson and Jan Bohanes €“ WTO Appellate Body Secretariat
March 4: Senator Brownback introduces S. Res. 311 calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly, and for other purposes.
February 21-28: USAID/USVTC Study Mission on IPR Enforcement
February 12: Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, hearings on "Trade and Human Rights: The Future of U.S.-Vietnamese Relations." U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Testimony
February 6: WTO Workshop for Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association
February 3: "The U.S.-Vietnam BTA: Survey of U.S. Companies on Implementation Issues" - Report & Interviews by the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum.
January 16: U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library sign MOU to establish an Intellectual Property Rights Reference Collection.
January 11-16: USVTC Congressional Staff Visit to Hanoi, Hoi An & Ho Chi Minh City
2003
December 16 - 17: Workshop for Hanoi Law University, HCM Law University, and Ministry of Justice with Viet Dinh - Associate Professor, Georgetown University
December 1 -12: Vietnam WTO Bilaterals & Working Party Meeting in Geneva
December 5: U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council & US ASEAN Business Council host banquet in honor of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan 's Visit to Washington and 2nd Anniversary of the BTA.
December 1: Launching Workshop with Hanoi Law University
November 30 - December 6: USAID/USVTC Study Mission to Washington, DC and New York City on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
November 22: Workshop with Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association
November 10 - 12: Vietnam Minister of Defense visits Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Defense
November 3: Vietnam and Japan Conclude Bilateral Investment Treaty
October 25 - November 1: USVTC/USAID Study Mission to Wellington and Auckland, NZ on Financial Services and Fiscal Impact of Trade Liberalization
September 28 - October 10: Visiting Fellows from Hanoi & HCMC Law Faculty Participate in Harvard University Kennedy School Executive Program on The Practice of Trade Policy: Economics, Negotiations and Rules.
October 5 - 10: Minister of Planning & Investment Vo Hong Phuc Visits Washington, DC and New York City. U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council and U.S.-ASEAN Business Council co-host a breakfast in his honor. U.S.-Vietnam Investment Seminar, New York City, 9 October.
October 3: Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly addresses a conference on U.S.- Vietnam relations in Washington organized by SAIS and Vietnam 's Institute for International Relations
September 2003: Update on Upcoming Trade Council Activities and Technical Assistance Programs.
September 29 - 30: The Impact of Tariffs: Econometric and Empirical Analysis in Support of WTO Accession - Technical Assistance Program in cooperation with Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam Ministry of Finance.
September 24: Ambassador Raymond Burghardt speech on U.S.- Vietnam Relations - The Need for a Broader Vision
September 23: Ambassador Burghardt and Deputy Chief of Mission Bob Porter host dinner for USVTC/USAID Study Mission Delegates.
September 16 - 20: Minister of Trade Truong Dinh Tuyen Visits Washington, DC - Trade Council hosts Luncheon in his honor. Sponsors include ACE, Boeing, Oracle, PHRMA, New York Life International and Nike.
September 19: Trade Council Member Far East National Bank Organizes Seminar on Factoring with State Bank of Vietnam.
September 10 - 14: Vice Minister of Trade Luong Van Tu Heads Delegation to WTO Ministerial in Cancun. Trade Council Member New York Life International hosts dinner in honor of Vietnamese delegation. Click here for news on the WTO Ministerial in Cancun
August 5 - 6: Vietnam€™s Accession to the WTO: Strategies for Negotiations and the Implementation Process - Seminar sponsored by New York Life International in cooperation with Vietnam Ministry of Trade and the USVTC
July 30 - August 1: USVTC hosts Cato Adrian - Counsellor, WTO Accessions Division to work with Vietnam 's WTO Negotiation Team
July 19 - 27: USVTC/USAID Agricultural Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Study Mission to Washington, DC & Oklahoma
July 12 - 19: USVTC/USAID Telecom Study Mission to Washington, DC
July 15: House vote on Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) sanctions amendment on H.R. 1950 - Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005
July 7: The Ministry of Justice and US-Vietnam Trade Council (USVTC) signed a project memorandum on assistance to international trade law training project
July 1: USVTC Workshop on Trade in Services at the Ho Chi Minh City University, School of Law
June 16: Decision memo to Joe Spectrini from Barbara Tillman for the Antidumping duty Investigation of Catfish from Vietnam
June 5: Ambassador Ray Burghardt briefs a group of Congressional staffers on US-Vietnam relations, organized by USVTC and House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee
May 29: President Bush transferred to Congress the one year renewal of the Jackson-Vanik 2003 waiver for Vietnam
May 12-13: Vietnam WTO Working Party Meeting in Geneva
April 25: U.S. and Vietnam Sign Textile Agreement
April 3: Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) Introduces Vietnam Human Rights Act
March 25 - April 2: USVTC/USAID Intellectual Property Rights Study Mission to Washington, DC
February 22 - March 1: USVTC/USAID State Bank of Vietnam Study Mission to Washington, DC
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