America’s recent history in Vietnam

1988 U.S. M.I.A./P.O.W. Task Force begins work in Vietnam.

1989 Vietnam withdraws forces from Cambodia.

1992 President Bush allows U.S. companies to establish representative offices in Hanoi, but no trade.

1993 The Bush Administration ends the U.S. veto on new lending to Vietnam by multilateral aid organizations of which the U.S. is a member, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Asian Development Fund.

1993 President Bush allows American companies to work in Vietnam on contracts financed by multi-lateral aid money.

1994 President Clinton lifts the embargo on U.S. trade with Vietnam in place since the end of the war.

1994 Vietnam and the U.S. agree to open diplomatic liaison offices in each other’s capitals, and begin talks on outstanding claims on diplomatic property.

1995 U.S. liaison office opens in Hanoi.

1995 President Clinton announces normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, citing progress on the M.I.A./P.O.W. issue, among other things Warren Christopher visits Hanoi, the first Secretary of State to do so since Henry Kissinger in 1973. He opens the new U.S. Embassy, and hails the start of a new era in the countries’ relationship.

1996 President Clinton names former Florida Congressman Douglas ("Pete") Peterson as the first U.S. Ambassador to Hanoi.

1997 The U.S. Senate gives unanimous approval to Ambassador Peterson’s appointment after delays caused by opponents of political normalization.

1998 Jackson-Vanik waiver spurs further U.S. investment in Vietnam; Vietnam welcomed into APEC; hosts 6th ASEAN summit in Hanoi.

1999 President Clinton re-extends the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam.

1999 USTR Ambassador Richard Fisher and Vietnam Trade Minister Tuyen agree to a bilateral trade agreement in principle in Hanoi, Vietnam.

2000 Secretary of Defense William Cohen becomes the first U.S. Defense Secretary to visit Vietnam since the end of the War.

2000 Vietnam Trade Minister Vu Khoan and USTR Ambassador Barshefsky sign an
agreement on trade relations at USTR. President Clinton announces the conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement from the White House Rose Garden.

2000 President Clinton visits Vietnam,

2001 BTA passes by voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

October 3, 2001 BTA passes without amendment by 88 - 12 vote in the U.S. Senate.

2001 BTA Ratified by Vietnam National Assembly, 278-85.

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