[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 65019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30961]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination of Effective Date of U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade 
Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representatives.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative (``the USTR'') has 
determined that the effective date of the ``Agreement between the 
United States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Trade 
Relations'' (``the Agreement''), and, the grant of nondiscriminatory 
tariff treatment to the products of Vietnam is December 10, 2001. This 
determination is made pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and as 
required in Presidential proclamation 7449 (66 FR 31375).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Bryan, Director for India and 
Indochina Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
(202) 395-6813.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 13, 2000, the United States and 
Vietnam concluded the Agreement in accordance with the requirements of 
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) (``the Trade 
Act''). Section 405(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2435(c)) provides 
that a bilateral commercial agreement providing nondiscriminatory 
treatment to the products of a country denied such treatment prior to 
the date of enactment of the Trade Act, and a proclamation implementing 
such agreement, shall take effect only if a joint resolution described 
in section 151(b)(3) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2191(b)(3)) that 
approves of the Agreement is enacted into law.
    President Bush signed Proclamation 7449 on June 8, 2001, and 
transmitted the Agreement to Congress on that date for its approval. In 
the proclamation, the President directed the USTR to publish notice of 
the effective date of the Agreement. Congress approved the Agreement on 
October 3, 2001 and the President signed the legislation approving the 
Agreement on October 16, 2001. The National Assembly of Vietnam 
approved the resolution ratifying the Agreement on November 28, 2001 
and the President of Vietnam signed the legislation on December 4, 
2001.
    Chapter VII, Article 8:1 of the Agreement provides that it shall 
enter into force on the date of exchange of written notices of 
acceptance by the two Governments. On December 10, 2001, Ambassador 
Robert B. Zoellick, the United States Trade Representative and Vu 
Khoan, Minister of Trade of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 
exchanged written notices of acceptance, thus implementing the 
Agreement. Thus, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the 
effective date of nondiscriminatory treatment for products of Vietnam 
is December 10, 2001.

Robert B. Zoellick,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 01-30961 Filed 12-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P