Text: Grassley Urges Early Submission of Vietnam Trade Deal
(Letter asks President to submit agreement by June 1)

President Bush should submit the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) to the Congress by June 1, according to the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Charles Grassley (Republican of Iowa) made the case for early submission of the BTA in a May 21 letter to President Bush.

According to the Iowa lawmaker, a bipartisan vote in favor of the BTA would "lay the groundwork for broader cooperation" on other trade initiatives.

Following is the text of the May 21 letter of Senator Charles Grassley to President George Bush on the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement:

(begin text)

United States Senate
Committee on Finance
Washington, DC 20510-6200
May 21, 2001

The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to urge you to submit the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) to the Congress for consideration by June 1, 2001. Submitting this important and historic agreement to Congress by this date would allow Congress to consider it at the same time it considers the President's decision to renew the waiver of the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Vietnam.

As you know, Vietnam is covered by the provisions of the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment. The Jackson-Vanik amendment created a very specific process on how such agreements will be considered. I believe it is important for the Vietnam BTA to be considered under these pre-established procedures. These procedures would allow for a vote within a specified time frame, increasing the likelihood of quick approval of the agreement this year.

More importantly, Congressional consideration of the agreement at this time is also in the interest of the United States. This agreement, one of the most comprehensive bilateral trade agreements the U.S. has ever negotiated, will provide U.S. agriculture and business with significant new opportunities within the Vietnamese market. I have heard from many of my colleagues on the importance of this agreement. I believe a strong bipartisan vote on this agreement will lay the groundwork for broader cooperation, and more progress, on the other important trade initiatives we have before us.

Thank you for considering my views, and I look forward to working with you in moving this agreement through the Senate.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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