Program and Event

The U.S. Promotes Trading Rights in Laos

U.S. Ambassador Ravic Huso and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Ms. Khemmani Pholsena deliver their speeches at the opening ceremony of the “Trading Rights Seminar”

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring a two-day seminar in Vientiane on trading rights as they relate to Laos’ joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the implementation of U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) commitments.

The seminar is part of the Laos BTA/ WTO Project, funded by the U.S. Embassy and managed by USAID. Trading rights promote competitiveness and development. They establish the right to participate in international trade and import and export products. The seminar will cover key concepts in trading rights, implementation considerations, and will address areas of possible nonconformance.

Speakers at today’s Trading Rights workshop include the United States Ambassador to Laos, Ravic R. Huso, the Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce, Khemmani Pholisena, and the Head of the Multilateral Trade Division of the MOIC, Buavanh Vilavong.

Headlining the seminar is Michael Hathaway, an expert in international trade agreements who previously served as Deputy General Counsel of the US Trade Representative’s Office.

Approximately 27 government officials and representatives of the National Assembly and nine representatives of the private sector are expected to attend.