President George W. Bush departed for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi on Wednesday under a cloud of legislative disappointment, after the US House failed to pass a bill granting Vietnam permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).
The measure drew 228 votes in favor and 161 against on Monday, falling short of the two-thirds majority required under the fast-track procedure used. A simple-majority vote under standard rules, requiring only 218 votes, is expected to follow, though timing remained uncertain.
Vietnam had been approved the previous week as the 150th member of the World Trade Organization, but without PNTR, WTO rules cannot govern trade between the two countries. Vietnamese garments and other exports would remain restricted in US markets, while American firms would be unable to access WTO-negotiated openings in Vietnam.
Opponents in both parties cited Vietnam's human rights record, respect for military veterans, and potential job losses in US manufacturing. Hanoi expressed regret, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung calling the outcome contrary to the interests of both nations.
The bill still requires Senate approval, where passage is anticipated, though opposition tied to textile protections or human rights concerns could complicate its path. The US imported nearly 6 billion dollars in Vietnamese goods last year while exporting only about 1 billion dollars there.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.