Decision No. 116/1998/QĐ-TTg On the establishment of the Government Negotiation Team for International Economy and Trade

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the establishment of the Government's Economic and Trade Negotiation Team

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to Article 20 of the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Pursuant to Decision No. 31/1998/QĐ-TTg dated February 10, 1998 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation;

DECISION:

Article 1. Establishes the Government's Economic and Trade Negotiation Team (hereinafter referred to as the Government's Negotiation Team) to prepare and conduct negotiations for Vietnam's accession to and activities within the World Trade Organization (WTO); to conduct negotiations with the Government of the United States regarding the Trade Agreement.

Article 2. The Government's Negotiation Team shall have the following tasks:

1. Serve as the focal point for compiling and drafting negotiation strategies and plans for joining the WTO and negotiation plans for the Vietnam-US Trade Agreement, to be submitted to the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation for review and comments to report to the Prime Minister for approval before officially commencing negotiations and to serve as the basis for developing negotiation plans of relevant Ministries and sectors.

2. Conduct negotiations at various levels and scopes within the framework of the WTO organization and the Vietnam-US Trade Agreement negotiations, ensuring compliance with the negotiation strategies and plans approved by the Prime Minister.

3. Coordinate with relevant Ministries and sectors to coordinate specialized activities to meet the requirements of negotiation work, as well as to implement negotiation outcomes after they have been reviewed and decided upon by the Prime Minister.

4. Perform other tasks assigned by the Prime Minister.

Article 3.

1. The composition of the Government's Negotiation Team includes: the Team Leader, several Deputy Team Leaders, and members.

The Team Leader is a Deputy Minister of Commerce - Secretary General Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, appointed by the Prime Minister.

The Deputy Team Leaders are representatives at the Directorate level from relevant Ministries and sectors directly related to the negotiation field and content, appointed and relieved of duty by the Chairman Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation based on the recommendation of the Secretary General of the committee.

2. Members of the Government's Negotiation Team include representatives at the Directorate level from the Ministries of Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Planning and Investment, Science, Technology and Environment, Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, Justice, Culture, Information, Government Office, State Bank of Vietnam, General Department of Customs, and General Department of Tourism.

Members of the Government's Negotiation Team are nominated by the aforementioned Ministries and sectors to undertake specialized responsibilities within the Government's Negotiation Team and must be approved by the Chairman of the Committee.

Relevant Ministries and sectors are responsible for nominating capable officials to serve as focal points and representatives of their Ministries and sectors to participate in the Government's Negotiation Team.

Article 4. The Team Leader of the Government's Economic and Trade Negotiation Team has the following duties and authorities:

1. Directly under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Chairman and Vice Chairmen Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation in preparing and conducting negotiations.

2. To manage the activities of the Government's Negotiation Team in compiling and drafting negotiation strategies and plans; preparing and conducting negotiations at various levels and scopes within the framework of the WTO organization and the Vietnam-US Trade Agreement, based on the negotiation strategies and plans approved by the Prime Minister.

3. Based on the specific tasks and content of negotiations during each period, the Team Leader of the Government's Negotiation Team has the authority to request relevant Ministries and sectors to replace their representatives participating in the Government's Negotiation Team.

4. To utilize the machinery of the Office Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation to assist in the common work of the Negotiation Team.

Article 5. The operating budget of the Government's Negotiation Team is included in the common operating budget of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation.

Article 6. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after the date of signature and replaces Decision No. 269/TTg dated May 7, 1997 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the Government's Negotiation Team for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Article 7. The Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).of Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government, and the Team Leader of the Government's Economic and Trade Negotiation Team are responsible for implementing this Decision./.