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Rohrabacher on losing end of Vietnam vote

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Paul Clinton

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher unsuccessfully revived his push to end

normalized trade with Vietnam earlier this week.

Rohrabacher, during a blistering speech on the House floor

Tuesday, said he was unhappy with President Bush’s push to extend

normalized trade with the Communist country.

“Extending American tax dollars to subsidize or insure business

with the Communist Vietnam is bad business and a betrayal of American

values,” Rohrabacher said in the speech. “There has been no

willingness whatsoever toward free and fair elections.”

Every year, Congress must decide whether to renew normal trade

relations status with the country. Rohrabacher, a Republican who

represents Costa Mesa, has opposed the move in past years.

This year, Rohrabacher introduced a resolution, known as House

Joint Resolution 101, to revoke the status, which allows American

businesses to trade goods and services with the South Asian country.

However, the House voted down Rohrabacher’s move, on a 338-91

vote, instead recommending Bush extend the trading status. GOP Rep.

Chris Cox, who represents Newport Beach, joined his Orange County

colleague in pushing for an end to the trading status.

In his speech, Rohrabacher said he wanted to “send a message to

the gang that rules Vietnam with iron fists” and stop rewarding a

regime that has “increased their brutal repression” in the country.

Several American companies, including Caterpillar Inc., have

already been doing business in Vietnam. In his speech, Rohrabacher

said several executives from private companies have been jailed in

the country when they spoke out against government policies.

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