For example, one of the side letters signed by U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills and then-Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Yuri N.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The U.S.-Soviet Trade Agreement: Overtaken By Events

Vietnam's overriding interest in its foreign relations has been to accelerate its economic development.

ECONOMIST: We want to be your friend

Britain's Foreign Office, meanwhile, has curtailed diplomatic and economic relations with Iran.

ECONOMIST: Iran's seizure of British sailors raises the stakes

In an effort to sway debate now under way on the Farm Bill, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Thursday blasted a tax proposal put forward by Democrats, saying it could damage foreign investment in the U.S. and harm America's economic relations with its most important trading partners.

FORBES: Down On The Farm Bill

Mr. RAY TAKEYH (Council on Foreign Relations): He might be able to actually, under the banner of economic justice, further expand Iran's bloated bureaucracy, further expand Iran's social and economic subsidies, which are a drain on those resources, and actually obstruct a sort of economic privatization program that calls for lessening of the role of government.

NPR: Iran's President Sets Out to Ease Unemployment

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States had normalized, and direct foreign investments were beginning to drive economic growth there.

FORBES: Magazine Article