US DoC to Rethink Tax Rates for Vietnamese Catfish Exporters

The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has announced that it will reconsider the anti-dumping tax rates it applied on the Vietnamese tra and basa catfish products on its market if asked for by Vietnamese exporters.

Some Vietnamese exporters are working on procedures to apply for lower import tariffs following the DoC's announcement.

Applications are to reach the DoC this month and the department will consider them on an individual basis. Those that are shortlisted will have to go through lengthy procedures, which will last between 12 and 18 months.

Vietnam Adopts Int'l Copyright Laws

Sun, 08/15/2004 - 19:12

Vietnam on October 26 will officially become a member of the international treaty on copyright law, otherwise known as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

Vietnam will become the 156th full-member of the treaty, according to an announcement made by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Under the treaty, Vietnam will grant copyright protection in the fields of literature, arts and science to citizens of countries that are signatories to the treaty. Vietnamese authors will also be protected.

US Congressmen Tour Vietnam

Six members of the US House of Representatives paid a visit to Vietnam on August 10-11 to discuss the two countries' bilateral relations, particularly drug control and child abuse.

The group, led by Tom Davis, Chairman of the Government Reform Committee met Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan and worked with the Committee for External Affairs and the Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children of the National Assembly on Tuesday. They also met Vice Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem the following day.

Open Letter To American in Support for Agent Orange Victím

                                                                                                      Unofficial translation

TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE VIETNAM ASSOCIATION FOR VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN

Hanoi, 6 Aug, 2004

Dear American friends,

Agent Orange victims send 3,000 petitions to the US

The Vietnam Society for Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims have sent nearly 3,000 letters of petitions written by Agent Orange victims nationwide to American Professor Kenneth J. Herrmann, Director of the SUNY Brockport Vietnam Programme.

The professor will take the petitions to the US to call for public support for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, and especially for their lawsuit against US chemical companies that produced and supplied the toxic chemicals used by US troops during the war in Vietnam.

Vietnam press highlights on July 27

Wed, 07/28/2004 - 00:42

Govt Officials Vow to Clear Tax, Customs Problems

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will continue to intensify administrative reforms in tax and customs sectors, removing all remaining problems and punishing any customs or tax officers violating regulations to create more favorable conditions for businesses in Vietnam, an MoF official promised at a meeting with businesses yesterday in Hanoi.

United Airlines Starts Vietnam Service

Chicago, July 22, 2004 -- United Airlines today announced that it will begin daily San Francisco-Ho Chi Minh City service via Hong Kong effective December 9, 2004, following completion of the application process with the government of Vietnam. The first flight will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on December 10, 2004, the third anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement. “We are very excited by this historic opportunity to be the first U.S. carrier to provide direct service to Vietnam in almost 30 years.

Law maker denounces US Human Rights Acts

Ha Noi (VNA) – The Viet Nam Human Rights Acts (H.R 1587), approved by the US House of Representatives on July 14, runs counter to the general development trend in the relationship between Viet Nam and the US, Ton Nu Thi Ninh, vice chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Commission for External Relations, told the daily Tuoi Tre newspaper on Wednesday.

VN stays world’s largest pepper exporter

Wed, 07/21/2004 - 17:31

HA NOI — Viet Nam remains the world’s top pepper exporter, shipping 60,026 tonnes so far this year, a 27 per cent increase over the same period last year, reported the Viet Nam Pepper Association (VPA).

The VPA attributed the success to increased investment in new processing equipment, which has secured Viet Nam’s reputation for black pepper quality and quantity in the global market.

Vietnam Protests and Rejects Human Right Act

In response to journalists' requests for a comment on the approval of the Vietnam Human Rights Act by the US House of Representatives on July 19, 2004, Mr. Le Dzung, the Spokesman of the Ministry Foreign Affairs of Vietnam stresses:

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