US works to ratify TPP: Ambassador

Hanoi (VNA) – The US is working to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius told President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Bui Van Cuong at a meeting in Hanoi on August 10.

According to Lao dong (Labour) newspaper, the two sides exchanged the roadmap for Vietnam’s involvement in the world-largest free trade pact.

The Ambassador said President Barack Obama supported the ratification of the deal.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam will effectively implement its commitments under the TPP as it is doing for the World Trade Organisation.

With its role to protect the rights and interests of trade unionists, the VGCL is aiming to increase its membership, Cuong said.

As a political-social organisation, the VGCL operates according to the Law on Trade Unions approved by the National Assembly, he noted.

The confederation will engage in the revision of regulations as stipulated in Chapter 13 of the law, he said.

Ted Osius said the US Embassy is willing to provide technical assistance for the VGCL to improve negotiation skills to sign a collective labour agreement.

The TPP is a free trade agreement between 12 countries, namely Canada, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Australia, the US, Japan and Vietnam, which aims to remove tariff barriers for its members.

Once in force, the pact will create a free trade area of 800 million people and account for 30 percent of global trade and about 40 percent of the world’s economy.-VNA