The signing of the agreement is a step towards the bilateral trade target reached by the two countries of $2 billion in 2015. Strong criticism of the problems in Vietnam and Laos tends to backfire, close communication channels and strengthen hard-line politics, making repressive tactics more or less likely. This unintended outcome is generalizing to other potential areas of conflict, including trade. Both Vietnamese and Laotian officials are open to engagement and negotiation, and silent diplomacy can produce results where threats and harassment have little effect. Given the history of U.S. interference in the region, arm-on-arm tactics also have little moral basis. The willingness of some democrats, unions, and citizens` groups in Congress to attach labor and environmental standards to normal trade relations is well-intentioned, but ignores the differences between the NTR and other agreements. This seems to be for the Vietnamese and Laos an extension of the same unfair treatment they have received from the United States for decades. None of the former BTAs with most other countries in the world contain environmental or labor clauses.
In addition, vietnamese and Laostic agreements have already been negotiated and signed and await their implementation; The Vietnamese have even started implementing some provisions of the BTA before ratification, as they do not want the delay to slow down other aspects of their economic reform agenda. The United States should live up to its international obligations and not continue to raise the bar for others. A bilateral border agreement between Laos and Vietnam was signed on June 27, 2015 in Vietnam`s Nghe An province. Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Somsavat Langsavad and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Khemmani Pholsena as well as his Vietnamese counterparts, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, were present. Describes the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in which this country participates, including with the United States. Contains websites and other resources for U.S. companies to get more information about how they can use these agreements. . . .
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