USAID Sponsors Workshops on Law to Improve Quality of Vietnamese Exports

July 11, 2007

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring WTO-related workshops this week in Hanoi and HCM City on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Vietnam's draft Law on the Quality of Products and Goods.

The USAID Support for Trade Acceleration Program (STAR) is organizing the workshops in close coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Directorate for Standards, Measurement and Quality (STAMEQ) to solicit comments from the private businesses directly affected by the legislation before the National Assembly takes action. At the request of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment (STEC) of the National Assembly, the workshops will facilitate discussion among participants to develop detailed legal comments on the draft legislation and other technical barriers to trade.

"In a post-WTO accession environment, businesses face greatly increased competition," said Dan Rathbun, project director of STAR. "A well-crafted and properly-implemented Law on the Quality of Products and Goods will make Vietnamese exports more competitive. It will also help ensure that products are safe for Vietnamese and foreign consumers and that Vietnam is in compliance with WTO requirements."

Speakers at the workshops will include top officials from the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the TBT Office of Vietnam and STAMEQ, as well as STAR legal advisers.

Since the ratification of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the U.S. and Vietnam in 2001, USAID has provided substantial support to the Government of Vietnam for the fulfillment of BTA and WTO obligations. As food-importing countries become more rigorous about product quality and safety, Vietnam can create another major exporting opportunity by adopting a world-class Law on top of its competitive advantages of low-cost and highly-skilled workers. 

Press Inquiries: Alyssa Worsham, (04) 935-1249
E-mail: aworsham2@usaid.gov
http://www.usaid.gov/