July 13, 2000

United States and Vietnamese officials meeting in Washington reportedly complete sweeping trade agreement that would allow generally unfettered commerce between the two nations for first time since end of Vietnam War; agreement, which comes after four years of fitful negotiations, is expected to be signed within a week; but Congress will still have to approve agreement and extend normal trade privileges to Vietnam, a vote that some Clinton administration officials believe is unlikely this election year (M)

Bernard Holland reviews Netherlands Opera Company's performance of Louis Andriessen's opera, Writing to Vermeer, at Lincoln Center Festval 2000 at New York State Theater; librettist is Peter Greenaway; photo (M)

Small-business owners and farmers whose Washington lobbyists ardently support Republican plan to repeal estate tax seem largely unaware that Pres Clinton, who intends veto, has said he would sign legislation that would exempt nearly all of them from estate tax starting next year; photo; Democratic version would allow business owners and farmers to leave $2 million to heirs without tax, but Republicans insist that total elimination is only effective reform; tax experts Sanford J Schlesinger and Neil Hart point out that Democrats are offering better deal of immediate relief, but lobbying groups have done little to inform members (M)

Rising gas prices are bringing little benefit to independent service station operators, and in some regions they are actually making it tougher to do business; operators say price they pay for gasoline has risen faster than price they can charge customers and still stay competitive; but elsewhere along the chain, higher prices have meant sharply higher profits for producers and refiners, and Federal Trade Commission has started inquiry into possible industry collusion; chart of gas prices and profits; photo (M)

Justice Richard F Braun rules that New York City must arrange for continuing mental health care for mentally ill Rikers Island prison inmates before releasing them; rules in suit by inmates who hold 25,000 inmates who are treated for mental illness each year while in Rikers are being released without proper provision for treatment in community or way to continue their psychotropic medication; finds plaintiffs are highly likely to win case and would suffer irreparable harm unless city provides relief while case is fought in court (M)