House leader eyes vote on Vietnam trade bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives
should vote on a trade agreement with Vietnam before President
George W. Bush visits the country in mid-November, a top
Republican said on Tuesday.

“I see it on the agenda before he goes to Vietnam,” House
Majority Leader John Boehner told reporters as lawmakers were
returning to Washington after a month-long break.

However, the Ohio Republican left open the possibility the
House might wait until the week after the November 7
congressional elections to vote on the Vietnam trade bill.

That would be cutting it close because Bush is expected to
be in Vietnam on November 18-19 for the annual APEC (Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation) leaders summit.

Many Republicans are wary of voting on any trade deal ahead
of this year’s election, which Democrats see as their best
opportunity in years to win control of the House.

The U.S. agreement with Vietnam paves the way for Hanoi to
join the World Trade Organization and would permanently
normalize trade relations between the two countries.

It is a mostly one-sided agreement that requires Vietnam to
open its markets to more U.S. farm goods, manufactured products
and services such as banking and telecommunications.

However, the United States would be required to lift quotas
it now imposes on clothing imports from Vietnam because such
restrictions are a violation of WTO rules.

The U.S. textile industry has been pushing for changes in
the agreement, such as a safeguard mechanism that would allow
the United States to reimpose quotas in response to a surge.

The Senate could vote on the agreement this month, even if
the House decides to wait until November. However, the textile
issue could delay action in the Senate as well.

A pair of textile-state Republicans — Sen. Elizabeth Dole
of North Carolina and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina —
have threatened to block a vote on the Vietnam trade bill
unless their concerns are addressed.