WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Loretta Sanchez
(D-Garden Grove) joined four representatives today to introduce the bipartisan
Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Viet Nam (“FREE Viet Nam”) Act,
which would bar Viet Nam from enjoying special U.S. trade preferences until the
country takes serious measures to curb human rights abuses.
Despite consistent pressure from Congress and
human-rights organizations, the Vietnamese government continues to violate its
international human rights obligations and it very own constitution, according
to a news release issued by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), one of the bill’s
sponsors. The FREE Viet Nam Act would prohibit Viet Nam from participating in
the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program as long as it continues to
engage in repressive behavior, denying basic human freedoms to individuals in
Viet Nam.
“We need to put Viet Nam on notice that it cannot
continue to violate human rights and expect preferred trade relations with the
United States,” Lofgren said. “The FREE Viet Nam Act gives us the tools we need
to not only send the right message to Viet Nam, but also to take action against
Viet Nam for their continuous human rights violations.”
