US Department of Commerce has just called for comments on Vietnam's apparel exports monitoring scheme for 2nd round until 31, 2007. It is the next step after DOC received comments from relevant parities in 1st round endung up by December 27 last year.

All comments and suggestions should be sent to the following address:
Mr David Spooner, Imports Management Division, Suite 1870, US Department of Commerce, Constitution Avenue, Washington D.C.
Email: vietnam-texapp-monitor-Frcomments@mail.doc.gov.
     
In this second round, relevant parties should add supplementary comments on Vietnam’s apparel monitoring scheme, focusing on such topics as information sharing, reporting and reference mechanism, products restriction, sample model of production, every 6-month information evaluation and self- investigation initiation, etc.

In the first round, at least 19 parties representing enterprises, importers and government agencies submitted their comments to DOC, which reflected two opposite viewpoints. Those who protests against the monitoring scheme, particulary Commerce Department under Vietnam Embassy in US, Vietnam Ministry of Trade and US importers association stressed that this discriminatory measures would go counter to the rule of World Trade Organization. Meanwhile, the US footwear, textiles and garments Association who strongly advocates the application of such scheme argued that Vietnam’s garments and apparel exports would pose serious threat to their industry.

Vietnam’s garments and apparel exports monitoring scheme was adopted by US Department of Commerce (DOC) in November in order to calm down 2 South Carolina congressmens, who hardly protested against the approval of Permanent Normal Trade Regulation for Vietnam.

As an WTO agreement, after Vietnam’s membership into WTO, the quota scheme imposed on its apparel exports will be automatically lifted up. However, the approval of PNTR for Vietnam was strongly protested by some South Carolina congressmens, who  concerned that it could affect US garment and footware industry as China imports did previously.

DOC has announced that the monitoring scheme would be conducted every six months for Vietnam-sourced apparel and garments products. If any proof of dumping or government’s subsidies for this products is found, an anti- dumping investigation will automatically be initiated.