Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08HANOI358, TIFA MEETINGS FOCUS ON TRADING RIGHTS, IPR AND MARKET
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08HANOI358.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08HANOI358 | 2008-03-28 09:24 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Hanoi |
VZCZCXRO7103
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHHI #0358/01 0880924
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280924Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7488
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4501
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 2568
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 HANOI 000358
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SINGAPORE FOR TREASURY
BANGKOK FOR JNESS
TREASURY FOR SCHUN
USTR FOR BISBEE AND RBAE
COMMERCE FOR A/S SPOONER AND SSU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR EFIN KIPR EIND EPET KTDB VM
SUBJECT: TIFA MEETINGS FOCUS ON TRADING RIGHTS, IPR AND MARKET
ACCESS
REF: HANOI 345
HANOI 00000358 001.2 OF 005
This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified. For official use only,
not for dissemination outside USG channels or posting on the
internet.
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The United States and Vietnam conducted Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks in Hanoi from March 19 -
21, during which the sides followed up on a full range of WTO
implementation and other issues including IPR, market access for
pharmaceuticals and cultural products and excise taxes on alcoholic
beverages. USTR Southeast Asia Director David Bisbee, who led the
U.S. delegation, pressed the Vietnamese to continue to implement its
WTO accession commitments and make progress on outstanding issues to
accelerate the development of our bilateral trade and investment
relationship. IPR issues - both long-standing ones like issuance of
a criminal circular and emerging issues like internet piracy and
ineffective implementation of data protection regulations - loomed
large as the biggest hurdles in the trade relationship. Bisbee
pushed hard for increased market access for U.S. IP-based industries
as a way to create a legitimate alternative to pirated products and
allow U.S. right holders to play an active role in supporting better
IP protection here. The discussions under TIFA underscored the
potential impact that Vietnam's weak IPR enforcement and protection
regime could have on its goals to promote greater foreign investment
and to be eligible for the U.S. GSP program. This second round of
TIFA talks was productive and largely positive, although there are
growing concerns and frustrations on the IP front. End summary.
¶2. (U) From March 19-21, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
(USTR) Director for Southeast Asia David Bisbee met with officials
from more than 15 Government of Vietnam (GVN) ministries to follow
up on discussions begun during the first TIFA meeting in December
2007 and to raise new issues under the umbrella of the TIFA. U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Regional IP Attache Jennie Ness
also participated, along with officers from Embassy Hanoi's Economic
and Foreign Commercial sections.
PRIVATE SECTOR MEETING
----------------------
¶3. (U) Before the TIFA kicked off, the U.S. delegation met on March
19 with the U.S. business community in Vietnam at a roundtable
organized by the US-ASEAN Business Council. The meeting was
attended by representatives from GE and GE Money, Chevron, AES,
Microsoft, GlaxoSmithKline, Emerson Electric, Ford, Motorola, UPS,
Citibank, Pfizer, Merck, the Duane Morris, Baker McKenzie and
Tilleke & Gibbins firms, and AmCham Hanoi.
¶4. (SBU) The private sector representatives described engagement
with the GVN as largely positive, especially at the higher levels.
They noted, however, a lack of follow-up among working-level and
implementing officials. Many, including Ford and GE Money, cited
cases where they are afforded insufficient time to comment on
regulations affecting their sectors, and instances where they were
not shown drafts at all prior to issuance. Bisbee agreed that in
many instances the GVN seems to lack the "right set of tools" to
deal with implementation, and encouraged the private sector to keep
USTR and the Embassy aware of their specific concerns, to be able to
point to specific areas for improvement in discussions with the GVN.
The pharmaceutical industry noted their particular interest in
working with USTR to ensure Vietnam has in place regulations to meet
its WTO commitments and that the industry is ultimately able to
establish a commercial presence in Vietnam and engage in a full
range of business activities. A key goal shared by all present at
the briefing was a desire for all regulations to be sufficiently
clear for local and provincial level officials to implement fully.
¶5. (SBU) The USG and private sector participants discussed areas in
which they could cooperate to improve capacity building, including
in the judicial system. "People would be happy to settle disputes
in Vietnam if the court system was adequate," the managing partner
of Baker McKenzie commented. Bisbee noted Embassy Hanoi's education
initiative as another promising area of private sector-USG-GVN
partnership.
TRADE AND DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
-----------------------------
HANOI 00000358 002.2 OF 005
¶6. (SBU) The TIFA talks coincided with an announcement from the
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) that it was considering a
repeal of the much-criticized one-distributor restriction, and
allowing foreign firms - that are registered to do business in
Vietnam but not licensed to conduct distribution activities - to, in
effect, wholesale imported goods to multiple distributors -- albeit
with some restrictions intended to prevent those foreign firms from
operating a full-scale distribution network. USTR and Mission
Vietnam have worked for months to persuade Vietnam to apply less
restrictive measures on the distribution services sector, which is
set to open to most foreign-owned firms in January 2009.
¶7. (SBU) At the TIFA meeting on March 19, Bisbee and Econoff
suggested to the MOIT that it would be simpler and easier to open
the distribution sector (which includes retail sales) now and simply
be done with all restrictions, rather than work to redraft
regulations that would be obsolete in nine months. Hoang Thi Hoa,
Deputy Director of the MOIT Planning and Investment Department (and
in charge of implementing the distribution rights schedule), said
that she agreed but that with all the work done on redrafting the
regulations (known as "Circular 9"), the GVN would probably go ahead
and issue them. Ms. Hoa said that her team is still working on the
new Circular 9, and hoped to issue it sometime in April. The two
sides agreed to continue to coordinate closely on this issue under
the TIFA to ensure that any future revisions to the implementing
guidelines would be consistent with Vietnam's WTO obligations.
¶8. (U) Bisbee also advised Ms. Hoa to do away with the "Economics
Needs Test" (ENT), a provision that Vietnam had negotiated as part
of its WTO service sector commitments, which now looks like
"nobody's child." The GVN has shown a murky understanding of what
the ENT aims to do. Ms. Hoa agreed that it was unclear and maybe
not needed at all, and asked for assistance in finding alternate
ways of regulating business zones. (Note: During the last TIFA, in
December 2007 in Washington, Ms. Hoa led a trade and distribution
delegation to the United States sponsored by USAID. During that
trip, USTR had her and the delegation meet with Alexandria, VA,
planning and zoning authorities when it became apparent that what
the GVN understood by ENT was more akin to U.S. land use and zoning
regulations.)
VIETNAM'S GSP SUBMISSION
------------------------
¶9. (SBU) The GVN acknowledged that it had work to do to improve
labor standards and intellectual property rights (IPR) in the
country; issues particularly relevant as the government consider
seeking eligibility for the U.S. GSP program. The two top officials
of the MOIT's Americas Department said that they submitted a report
to the Prime Minister the second week of March outlining the
advantages and risks of submitting a GSP application. A high-level
official from the Labor Ministry (MOLISA) reported at the TIFA
meeting that the GVN has asked the ILO for assistance in revising
its Labor Code, including provisions relating to freedom of
association and collective bargaining rights. MOLISA also informed
the delegation that the ministry was preparing written comments to
provide updates to an existing CRS report on Vietnam's labor
regime.
¶10. (SBU) The MOIT report recommended that the Prime Minister or
some other high-level GVN official submit the GSP application,
presumably during a visit to the United States. The MOIT officials
said that it could well be during MOIT Minister Hoang's intended
U.S. visit in late May or early June. Concurrently, Vietnam is
planning to apply for GSP with the EU, according to our EU
counterparts.
IPR CONCERNS LOOM LARGE
-----------------------
¶11. (SBU) The U.S. delegation noted ongoing concerns over Vietnam's
IPR protection and enforcement to a roundtable of IP agencies led by
the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP). Most
prominently, the U.S. officials reiterated longstanding and serious
concerns with Vietnam's outstanding commitment to draft a regulation
("Criminal Circular") to provide criminal remedies for commercial
scale trademark and copyright violations. Vietnam committed to
issue this Criminal Circular upon accession to the WTO in January
2007, and is now more than 14 months overdue. USTR Director Bisbee
HANOI 00000358 003.2 OF 005
noted that the U.S. has worked closely with the drafters and has
provided comments and suggestions on this Circular for over two
years, yet the latest draft raises serious WTO TRIPS concerns.
Bisbee urged the GVN to delay issuance of the draft if U.S. comments
had not been incorporated. (Note: Post later learned that the draft
circular was issued on March 18, and will take effect April 2.)
¶12. (SBU) The language of the latest Criminal Circular appears to
fall far short of what is needed to meet Vietnam's TRIPS obligations
and to provide an effective deterrent to piracy, Bisbee continued,
underscoring why the United States wants to engage with the
legislative drafting committee for upcoming revisions to Vietnam's
criminal code as soon as possible. While the two sides have a
tremendously strong relationship, Vietnam's failure to meet this
important WTO accession commitment is overshadowing progress in
other areas, and has the potential to stop other initiatives from
moving forward until the deficiencies are fixed, he stated.
¶13. (SBU) The U.S. delegation observed that Vietnam's reliance on an
administrative system to deal with IP violations, which appears to
be modeled after China's system, is not effective and is not
deterring pirates and counterfeiters. The fines are too low, right
holders are required to send warning letters to infringers before
any administrative action can be taken and administrative officials
do not know how to determine what is infringing or counterfeit (NOIP
no longer will perform this role). In civil cases, the burden on IP
right holders to prove actual damages serves as a bar to taking
action. They explained that the United States wants to work with
Vietnam to address these concerns, particularly as China's system
has already proven to be ineffective and controversial; highlighting
that ASEAN countries themselves point to China as the biggest source
of the region's IP woes. NOIP General Director Tran Manh Hung
acknowledged some of these faults but countered that the
administrative system, while not perfect, provides a "rapid and
effective" way to address IP violations. He welcomed continued
engagement from the United States to improve IPR enforcement.
¶14. (U) Citing cooperation between the two governments last year to
end the pirating of cable broadcast content by VTC, the state-owned
cable company, the U.S. delegation asked the GVN's assistance in
addressing a new issue - internet based piracy. Two websites owned
by state-owned telecom giant VNPT, socbay.com and zing.vn, offer
links to download free music without the artists' authorization.
Although pirated foreign music is available at these sites, the U.S.
side pointed out that the biggest victims are Vietnamese artists.
NOIP's Hung and representatives from the Ministry of Information and
Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism
(MOCST) agreed to look into this issue. USPTO's Ness encouraged
Vietnam to consider joining the WIPO Internet Treaties, which she
said could help Vietnam to stamp out this type of problem.
PHARMACEUTICAL IP ISSUES AND MARKET ACCESS
------------------------------------------
¶15. (SBU) Officials from the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Drug
Administration told the U.S. delegation that pharmaceutical
companies (including Swiss firms Novartis and Astra-Zenica) have
filed five applications thus far under Vietnam's regulations for
protection of data submitted in drug registration dossiers. All
five applications have been denied based on MOH officials'
assessments that the products have been on the market "for years" in
other countries and that the data is therefore publicly available
and undeserving of protection in Vietnam. MOH officials then
described their process for assessing whether each dossier merits
protection, including research to see whether the information in the
dossier is a trade secret. (Note: Pharmaceutical companies had
separately told the delegation that MOH also required them to submit
evidence of the costs of their clinical trials so as to prove that
the data was the product of "remarkable investments." End note.)
The U.S. delegation expressed concerns that the evaluation process
the officials described is not consistent with the system Vietnam
explained it would use to meet its WTO and BTA commitments during
previous discussions. MOH agreed that it would send the U.S. side
an official response describing the reasons for refusal in these
five cases and listing the conditions that companies must meet to
merit data exclusivity.
¶16. (U) Bisbee also asked the Drug Administration officials for
clarification on a recent GVN circular seeking to regulate drug
HANOI 00000358 004.2 OF 005
prices in Vietnam by referencing prices for those drugs in other
countries in the region. Specifically, he raised concerns that this
policy appears to only focus on the drug prices of foreign firms but
not those of domestic drug producers. The Vice Director of the Drug
Administration Nguyen Van Thanh responded that the circular was
passed to avoid "sudden surges" of drug prices in Vietnam and to
protect Vietnamese consumers and patients from paying "unreasonably
high" prices. Initially insisting that the policy does not
discriminate against foreign firms, Thanh ultimately admitted that
it puts in place different systems to evaluate the prices used by
foreign firms and by those who do not export. He agreed to report
this issue to his ministry's leadership, and will respond to the USG
in writing. Thanh also committed to answer U.S. questions about
which activities foreign drug companies are permitted to conduct in
Vietnam, and to address requests about how Vietnam's clinical trial
requirements (i.e., drug companies can not rely on clinical trials
performed in any other country to seek registration in Vietnam)
relate to plans for further ASEAN integration on drug registration.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SOME CULTURAL AREAS STILL TABOO
--------------------------------------------- --------
¶17. (SBU) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirmed that
foreign companies have limited access to Vietnam's film market, and
can work with local partners on certain book publications, but the
sound recording and performance arts sectors remain closed.
Pointing to a 1999 regulation, MOCST officials said that foreign
investors are prohibited from the music, performance art, video and
CD industries. Although the ministry plans to update the regulation
in the near future, there are currently no plans to expand market
access for foreign firms. Paradoxically, one MOCST official said
that Vietnam first wants to rein in the rampant piracy of cultural
products before it permits foreign investment. To this end, MOCST
has asked the Copyright Office of Vietnam to draft a decree on
optical media regulation. The MOCST officials emphasized that they
take fighting IPR violations seriously, but could not initiate an
immediate, wide-scale crackdown on stores selling pirated goods for
fear it "may violate the human rights of those vendors." USTR's
Bisbee responded that permitting foreign investment and providing a
legitimate market would allow foreign firms to become involved in
efforts to combat piracy, and urged the GVN to consider permitting
foreign participation in these "culturally sensitive" areas in the
near future. The MOCST officials agreed to continue dialogue on
this issue with the U.S. side, and will provide further written
clarification on permissible activities for foreign firms offering
cultural products.
RESPONSE ON BIT IS COMING SOON
------------------------------
¶18. (SBU) An official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment's
(MPI) Legal Department, the lead agency in ongoing BIT exploratory
talks, told the U.S. delegation that the GVN faces "many challenges"
before it can enter into a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with
the United States. The official pointed out that Vietnam is
considering how this new agreement would affect the "the BTA and WTO
commitments it has already undertaken," while also studying how a
BIT would impact Vietnam's commitments under other frameworks such
as ASEAN. He underscored that Vietnam is also busy negotiating
agreements with Japan, the EU, New Zealand, ASEAN, and most
recently, Canada and Croatia, which is straining Hanoi's limited
resources. These "challenges" notwithstanding, Vietnam wants to
continue BIT discussions and hopes to send its comments to the
United States "very soon," the MPI official continued. (Note: In a
separate March 21 meeting, MPI Minister Vo Hong Phuc told visiting
Deputy National Security Advisor Dan Price that Vietnam wants to
pursue BIT talks -- REFTEL.)
EXCISE TAX ON ALCOHOL
---------------------
¶19. (SBU) Ministry of Finance officials told USTR's Bisbee that a
recently-formed drafting committee will soon begin work on an Excise
Tax Law to fulfill Vietnam's commitment to transition to a WTO
consistent excise tax regime by 2010. Bisbee stressed the
importance of Vietnam finishing this law in time. The MOF officials
insisted they will complete the regulation by 2010, even allowing
for the necessary National Assembly review and passage. The
Ministry plans to have a draft ready by June and wants to submit it
HANOI 00000358 005.2 OF 005
to the National Assembly for review during its November 2008
session. At Bisbee's request, the MOF officials confirmed that
Vietnam would share the draft with the United States and will make
it available for public comment on its website.
¶20. (U) On a related issue, the MOF officials confirmed that
Vietnam's import duty tariffs on alcohol will fall from the WTO
initial rates to the final bound rates in equal linear stages, if
not faster - pointing out that the 2008 rates were actually lower
than required to meet Vietnam's commitments. This confirmation was
in response to questions raised by the delegation on behalf of the
U.S. beer industry which had been incorrectly informed that Vietnam
had not lowered its duty on beer as of January 1, 2008.
OTHER ISSUES
------------
¶21. (SBU) The United States consulted with the Vietnamese on their
willingness to become an observer to the Government Procurement
Agreement in the WTO and to consider joining the Multi-chip
Agreement, an initiative discussed under the U.S.-ASEAN TIFA. The
MOIT expressed interest in both but was noncommittal. The U.S.
delegation also asked for more dialogue on Vietnam's draft Law on
Laws, which sets forth the GVN's procedures for issuing new laws,
including consultation timeframes. "We want to ensure that the
private sectors from both our countries have the opportunity to
comment and engage Vietnam on important legislation," USTR's Bisbee
noted. An official from the Office of the Government commented that
a mission from Vietnam's National Assembly would soon travel to
Washington to learn more about U.S. lawmaking procedures.
¶22. (SBU) The GVN also raised concerns over the Department of
Commerce monitoring program for garment exports, particularly as the
time approaches for the Import Monitoring Program's (IMP) next
report in a few weeks' time. The Director of the International
Department of the Office of the Government, Bui Huy Hung said that
he hoped that Commerce officials "do the same thing that they did
the last time," when they came to Vietnam to explain how the IMP
works in the weeks preceding the first report, released on October
26, 2007. In fact, a Commerce technical group will be in Hanoi in
late March - early April to discuss garment exports and the IMP with
the GVN and other interlocutors.
COMMENT
-------
¶23. (SBU) The second round of TIFA talks moved forward a number of
issues of bilateral importance and broadened our dialogue on trade
and investment matters. Vietnamese press reported positively on the
talks; a sentiment which was underscored by press coverage of
visiting Deputy National Security Advisor Dan Price's meetings. GVN
interlocutors throughout the meetings expressed an interest and
willingness to continue to engage on key issues, including those on
which the two sides do not fully agree. IPR concerns, however, are
becoming more prominent and threaten to stall progress in other
areas, including Vietnam's aspirations for eligibility in the GSP
program and desire to have the United States remove it from the
Special 301 Watch List. Despite U.S. technical assistance and
extensive engagement on IP issues, Vietnam has put in place a legal
framework and mechanisms which, in practice, have not yet resulted
in deterrent penalties and appear to shield violators from effective
prosecution. Vietnam's rush to move forward with a highly
problematic Criminal Circular that does not appear to take U.S.
concerns into account is particularly troubling. The TIFA remains
an important tool to address this, and other outstanding issues.
End comment.
¶24. (U) This telegram was cleared by USTR's David Bisbee and USPTO's
Jennie Ness.
MICHALAK
1