Byron Dorgan: “we are now debating the trade agreement with Vietnam which not only provides normal trade relations status with that…”

“we are now debating the trade agreement with Vietnam which not only provides normal trade relations status with that country but also includes with it a bilateral trade agreement that we have negotiated with Vietnam. Normal trade relations, which used to be called most-favored-nation status but has since been changed, are relations we have with almost every country in the world. I believe there are only five countries with which we do not have normal trade relations. This bill bestows normal trade relations with respect to Vietnam but does it on a yearly basis so the Congress will review it year by year. Vietnam is a Communist country; it has a Communist government. It has an economic system that is moving towards a market-based economy. I, along with several of my colleagues, Senator Daschle, Senator Leahy, John Glenn, and a couple others, visited Vietnam a few years ago. It was a fascinating visit to see the embryo of a marketed-based system. I don't think a market-based economy is at all in concert with a Communist government. But nonetheless, just as is the case in China, Vietnam is attempting to create a market-based economy under the aegis of a Communist government. A market-based economy means having private property, being able to establish a storefront and sell goods.…”