JORDAN'S JOINT COMMISSION AGENDA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006581

SIPDIS

STATE FOR E STAFF - LISA COEN
STATE FOR EB/CBA - MERMOUD AND NEA/PPD - BOURGEOIS
STATE PASS USTR FOR NED SAUMS
STATE PASS USPTO FOR JOELLEN URBAN
CUSTOMS FOR FARAH NAIM AND CRAIG WALKER
COMMERCE FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/COBERG
TREASURY FOR PIPATANAGUL
OPIC FOR JIM HANSLEY AND ABED TARBUSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV KPAO JO OPIC
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S JOINT COMMISSION AGENDA

REF: AMMAN 6517


1. (u) Summary: Jordan's government and private sector
have developed an ambitious schedule of events in support of
the December 11 U.S.-Jordan FTA Joint Commission meeting
(detailed schedule below). Their plan envisages three days
of FTA-related meetings and press events to raise awareness
of the FTA among a broader U.S. audience. Jordanian
Ambassador to the U.S. Karim Kawar will be a central
organizing point for the Jordanians and is likely to contact
addressees to begin organizing many of these events. We will
continue to support JC preparations as we count down to
December 11. End summary.


2. (u) Following is an outline of the GOJ's and the
Jordanian private sector's proposals for the Joint Commission
and related events. We have tried to highlight areas of
Washington agency interest/assistance, and we will be happy
to help coordinate these events as well. Please note that,
prior to the JC events, the private sector delegation will
have been participating in a USAID-funded study tour
targeting capacity-building for Jordanian trade associations.
Stops in the study tour prior to the JC include a meeting
with the Economic Club of Detroit, at which Jordanian Trade
Minister Salah al Bashir is slated to give an address.


3. (u) Begin Washington Agenda:

Wednesday, December 11 (OFFICIAL JC DATE AS PROPOSED BY MoIT)

0900 - Digital video conference. The technical details of
the conference are being handled by the Jordan Investment
Board (Lama Mahadeen, email: lama(at)jib.com.jo). The DVC
will link Amman with Washington and five regional Arab
capitals. The DVC concept is to start with introductory
remarks by King Abdullah, followed by brief remarks by USTR
Zoellick and Minister Bashir, followed by three pre-scripted
questions from remote participants, which either Zoellick or
Bashir will answer. Total time for the event would be about
30 minutes. FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: We need confirmation
that a DVC facility will be reserved for that day/time, and
we need to get the DVC technical team in Washington in
contact with Mahadeen in Amman.

0930-1230 - Joint Commission Senior-Level Meeting. We have
been promised a detailed agenda by the GOJ by the end of the
week, which we will forward to Washington soonest. We expect
this meeting to end with a press event. Bashir has suggested
that the press event could include announcements by PhRMA and
Albemarle about their activities in Jordan. Albemarle has
recently begun exporting bromine from its Dead Sea facility,
and is looking for a public forum to announce the
development, while PhRMA reps informed the Ambassador in
October that several member companies are ready to announce
new cooperative ventures with Jordanian partners. In
addition to this, we expect there will be some sort of joint
statement issued by USTR and the Jordanian delegation
following the JC talks. FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED:
Ambassador Kawar should be in contact soon with USTR staff to
work out the press event. We will forward the GOJ's agenda
and official delegation list as soon as we receive them. If
there will be a joint statement, we should be prepared to
share a draft with Bashir soonest.

1230-1430 - Lunch co-hosted by JABA (Jordan's local Amcham)
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (tentative). JABA is trying
to schedule this lunch, but has received a lukewarm response
from the Chamber due to the Chamber's sensitivity over labor
and environmental provisions of the FTA and their impact on
new FTA's. FOLLOW-UP ACTION: We suggest that State
coordinate with the U.S. Chamber to secure agreement to hold
the lunch. A senior USG official (tbd) is likely to be asked
by the U.S. Chamber to make remarks.

1430-1730 - Joint Commission technical-level meetings. The
GOJ has indicated an interest in conducting working-level
discussions on (at least) rules of origin and environmental
issues as provided for in the FTA text and side letters.
FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: We will forward the GOJ's
delegation list and proposed agenda as soon as we receive it,
and will coordinate meetings with GOJ counterparts.

December 11 Afternoon (time tbd) - Globe Trade Event at
Jordanian Embassy. This is primarily a match-making event
for the private sector, organized by the Jordanian Embassy.

Thursday, December 12

0900-1100 - DoC-hosted roundtable for Jordanian trade
associations and U.S. counterparts. We have forwarded a
concept paper to DoC to begin thinking on organizing such an
event, which would focus on FTA awareness-raising,
association-level matchmaking, and promotion of the
American-Jordanian Exhibition slated for March 2003. The GOJ
expressed hope Secretary Evans would have time to briefly
address the roundtable alongside Minister Bashir. There
would also be a public statement following the event,
optimally to announce the creation of a U.S. counterpart to
the Jordanian FTA coordinating committee ("TIJARA"),which is
comprised of interested Jordanian trade and professional
associations. FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: Once we have
received the Jordanian delegation list, we will work with DoC
to identify appropriate U.S. association counterparts and
encourage their participation.

Lunchtime - Minister Bashir address to National Press Club
(tentative) - Bashir has expressed interest in addressing the
Club. Ambassador Kawar should follow up from the Jordanian
embassy to coordinate this event.

Additional events: Bashir is seeking meetings with OPIC,
USDA, and Treasury, probably to discuss project finance, food
aid, and bilateral tax treaties, respectively. OPIC, USDA
and Treasury should expect calls from Ambassador Kawar to
arrange those meetings, likely on the 12th. We have conveyed
to Bashir the complexities of starting negotiations on a tax
treaty, and expect him to name a legal expert to the
delegation for that purpose.

Friday, December 13

Breakfast co-hosted by the World Trade Centers (WTC),the
National U.S.-Arab Chambers of Commerce (NUSACC),and the
National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC). This event is being
coordinated through the Amman World Trade Center and the
Jordanian embassy in Washington. USG officials will likely
be invited.

1000-1215 - QIZ event hosted by Dept of State (tentative).
Per Ref A, a group of QIZ managers, investors, and GOJ
officials, including Bashir, are interested in holding a QIZ
event to jump-start investment and allay retailer concerns
about political risk factors in Jordan. The group hopes to
secure the participation of U/S Larson in this event.
FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: State to coordinate event with
help from Embassy Amman.

Afternoon - JABA-led "door knock" on Capitol Hill
(tentative). This will be coordinated by JABA and the
Jordanian embassy in Washington. We will also pass to State
a list of Hill leaders the delegation would like to meet once
we receive it. Please note Bashir has expressed interest in
attending the door knock.

End agenda.


4. (u) Press plan: Embassy is preparing a press plan for
the lead-up to the JC, JC-related events, and follow-up press
coverage in Jordan. FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: The JC is an
excellent opportunity to highlight Jordan as a successful
example of USG trade policy. We recommend PA officers from
interested Washington agencies coordinate with the Jordanian
embassy press office to ensure adequate coverage of the JC.

GNEHM