International News - June 2006

Vietnam , U.S. Reach Accord on WTO Status

Washington, May 15, 2006 (Washington Post, as reported by Paul Blustein) - The United States and Vietnam said yesterday that they have agreed in principle on the terms for Vietnam's membership in the World Trade Organization, one of the final steps toward eliminating the vestiges of enmity from a war that ended more than three decades ago.

The accord would require Vietnam to take a number of measures aimed at opening its economy wider to foreign goods and services, and would thus intensify the country's move toward a market-based system. Though still under communist rule, Vietnam has been gradually liberalizing its economy since embarking on a policy called doi moi, or renovation, in 1986, and has enjoyed blistering growth in recent years. Gross domestic product expanded 8.4 percent in 2005.

The agreement "signals an historic step in our bilateral relationship," U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman said in a written statement. " Vietnam recognizes that broad-based reform and economic liberalization are essential to its integration into the global economy."

If finalized as both sides said they expect, the agreement will pave the way for Vietnam to join the WTO later this year, because the United States was the last member of the Geneva-based trade body with which Vietnam needed to negotiate such a deal. Countries seeking membership in the WTO must reach bilateral agreements with individual member nations, and the pledges they make to lower important barriers to trade are extended to all other members.

Joining the Geneva-based WTO, which sets the rules for trade and mediates trade disputes among its 149 member countries, has long been one of Vietnam 's goals. Membership would give Vietnam legal protection against the possibility that major trading partners could capriciously impose sanctions on its products.

Vietnam is particularly eager to end quotas that limit the amount of textiles and apparel it can ship to the United States . It is one of the few countries on which such limits remain since the WTO eliminated a worldwide quota system last year.

Besides a variety of legal details that still must be worked out, the agreement depends on Congress granting Vietnam permanent "normal trade relations." The United States and Vietnam provisionally agreed to establish such relations in July 1999, giving Vietnamese products the same low-tariff access to U.S. markets as most other countries. Only Cuba, North Korea and a few other nations are denied such treatment. Vietnam's status must be renewed periodically under the terms of legislation passed in the 1970s that restricted the trading rights of communist and formerly communist countries.

Congress has generally supported expanding trade with Vietnam. "The road to normalization between the United States and Vietnam is almost complete," Sen. Max Baucus (Mont.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a written statement. Referring to legislation granting Vietnam permanent normal trade relations, Baucus said: "I intend to push this issue in the Senate and hope we can complete this process before the August recess."

But Vietnam, a nation of 84 million, remains a relatively poor country and is still a small market for U.S. firms. Shipments of U.S. products to Vietnam, though up 24 percent last year, totaled $1.2 billion, about 1 percent of all U.S. exports.

One controversy could still threaten implementation of yesterday's agreement: how to handle shipments of Vietnamese clothing. U.S. textile makers allege that Hanoi provides substantial government support to its textile and apparel industry, and the National Council of Textile Organizations, a trade group, said in a statement issued yesterday that the deal was a "victory for Vietnam at the expense of U.S. textile workers."

The group said "U.S. textile manufacturers will face a flood of heavily subsidized imports from Vietnam within as little as the next nine months." Those imports, the group said, will hurt U.S. firms' operations in Central America, which depend on large shipments of U.S.-made fabric and other textiles.

U.S. trade officials maintained that Vietnam has pledged to eliminate all "prohibited" subsidies for its industry -- such as special subsidies for exports -- and that the subsidies were not nearly as substantial as the U.S. industry claimed. If Vietnam does not eliminate the subsidies within 12 months of joining the WTO, the agreement provides that Washington can reimpose subsidies, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement is not final.

Qatar Armed Forces to Get New Uniforms

Qatar, April 28, 2006 (Gulf Times) - The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ) has signed an agreement with the Qatar Armed Forces to design new uniforms.
The signing ceremony, which took place at VCUQ, marked the beginning of the first phase of the project.

Colonel Abdul Aziz Mubarak al-Qubaisi, Brigadier Mubarak Mohamed Kumait al-Khayarin, Qatar Foundation Vice Chairperson Dr Saif al-Hajari and VCUQ Dean Christina Lindholm were present at the ceremony.

Brigadier al-Khayarin had approached VCUQ in June 2005 with the initial idea of the project. Continuous discussions have been taking place ever since leading to the recent signing of the agreement.

Colonel al-Qubaisi, the project officer, will be on site at VCUQ for the duration of the project.
The project is currently in the research phase. The team will be using both qualitative and quantitative methods of research.

The team has begun their research by looking at existing military uniforms being used within the Gulf region in terms of design, textiles and fabric.

So far, the design researchers have been impressed with the Omani military’s use of color.
Noor Ahmad al-Ansari anticipates visits to the UAE, Turkey, China and England to research the eventual manufacture of the uniforms.

VCUQ’s Fashion Design area coordinator Sandra Wilkins described the project as an incredible opportunity for the designers.

“The young women were selected to take part in this project for specific reasons, some for the technical skills they possess, others for their marketing and public relations skills,” she explained.

Wilkins said she was more than confident that VCUQ’s designers are up to the challenge. “This is our best project so far, the outcome will have an amazing impact on the country,” she added.

Flammable Uniforms Recalled

Wales, May 10, 2006 (BBC News) - Paramedics in Wales will be issued new uniforms after ambulance managers discovered their current outfits were flammable.

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust plan to recall the green uniforms as a way of ensuring "maximum staff safety."

It said no injuries had occurred to staff because of the current uniforms but it was looking at alternatives. But union officials say staff are happy with the uniform and that the change would be a waste of public money.

A spokesman for the ambulance service, which has 2,500 staff said: "The trust has decided to purchase a new line of non-flammable uniforms, as part of a proactive initiative instigated by the chief executive to ensure maximum staff safety.

"The trust has not been prompted to change its uniforms nor have there been any injuries to staff due to the current uniforms.

He said management was looking at alternative designs of uniforms for ambulance staff to wear.

"The core change that we are looking to introduce is long sleeved uniforms that protect the arms down to the wrist," he said.

For infection control purposes, uniforms need to be washed at 60C but at this temperature fire retardant treatments can wash out after repeated washes.

But staff have expressed concern about the plans.

Paramedic and Unison representative Tony Chatfield said: "We've been told about the change by a management notice saying they were concerned our uniforms were flammable. But most clothing is flammable if you hold a match to it and we don't go into burning buildings. It seems to me like management is trying to get a new style uniform through the back door in order to change their corporate image.”

"To have a corporate image change at the expense of the tax payer is not acceptable," Chatfield added.

Uniforms Hit a High Note

Canada, May 30, 2006 (Toronto Sun) - When the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts opens on June 14, 80 front-of-house staff will be custom-outfitted by Canadian designer Franco Mirabelli.

The veteran Toronto-based designer, known for his modern, timeless fashion, has created, for women, a Raj-inspired waist jacket over a soft fluid pant. For men, a complementary Nehru-collar lean shirt paired with a slim black pant.

Mirabelli's goal was to seamlessly blend the look of the uniforms with the elegant ambiance of the opera house, its performances, galas and guests.

“I used a faux-silk fabric from Italy that has a luxurious Asian appeal in its texture and sheen, while the color black ensures the look has a classic appeal," says Mirabelli of jacket and shirt to be worn by staff who will welcome, direct and serve patrons.

The new opera house is the permanent home of the Canadian Opera Company. Mirabelli owns three retail stores in Toronto and his label sells in specialty boutiques across Canada and the U.S.