Tentative U.S.-Vietnam 'Consistency Plan' Links Tariff Benefits To Labor Compliance

ATLANTA – Vietnam has tentatively agreed with the United States on a fully enforceable implementation plan to bring its labor regime into compliance with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) labor chapter that would explicitly condition the reduction of some U.S. tariffs on Vietnam's granting full freedom of association to independent unions, according to informed sources. Specifically, the “consistency plan” that has been informally agreed would require Vietnam to take a wide range of steps to improve freedom of association upon entry...