Laos: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated February 5, 2007]   [open pdf - 107KB]

"For several years, U.S.-Laos relations were dominated by the debate over whether to grant normal trade relations status to Laos. On November 19, 2004, Congress approved legislation that granted nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Laos. The Lao government's alleged poor treatment of former CIA-trained Hmong guerillas was a key factor in the debate and remains a point of contention between the two countries. The United States and Laos cooperate in important areas, including recovering remains of Americans missing in action (MIAs) from the Vietnam War, counter-narcotics and de-mining efforts. "