APHIS TEAM MEETS WITH VIETNAMESE COUNTERPARTS

APHIS TEAM MEETS WITH VIETNAMESE COUNTERPARTS    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has dispatched a team of technical specialists to Vietnam to address sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
   The meetings, which were held late last week in Ho Chi Minh City, covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of international trade guidelines and the need to create animal and plant quarantine zones to encourage efficient agricultural trade between the countries.
   “This is an excellent opportunity for both countries to get to know one another and develop good will for trade relations,” said Michael V. Dunn, under secretary for USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs.
   The United States is increasing cooperation with Vietnam in the areas of trade. The USDA seminars in Vietnam come at the heels of President Clinton’s trip to the country.
   USDA said the trip is funded by the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Emerging Markets Office Technical Issues Resolution Fund.