Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3954
2002-08-12 15:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR TALKS TRADE, STEEL AND BIOTECH WITH

Tags:  ETRD ECON PREL IT EUN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 003954 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E FOR CHASE, SECOR, SHUB; EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY,
DAS GASDEN, TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ, TPP/BTA/DCT FOR WMOORE;
EUR/ERA, EUR/WE; PASS USTR FOR ALLGIER, DEILY, DAVIDSN,
NOVELLI, BURCKY; USDOC FOR ITA/GALDONIS/SCLAEYS/DDEFALCO,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TALKS TRADE, STEEL AND BIOTECH WITH
VICE MINISTER URSO
UNCLASSIFIED


PAGE 02 ROME 03954 121532Z

UNCLAS ROME 003954

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E FOR CHASE, SECOR, SHUB; EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY,
DAS GASDEN, TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ, TPP/BTA/DCT FOR WMOORE;
EUR/ERA, EUR/WE; PASS USTR FOR ALLGIER, DEILY, DAVIDSN,
NOVELLI, BURCKY; USDOC FOR ITA/GALDONIS/SCLAEYS/DDEFALCO,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TALKS TRADE, STEEL AND BIOTECH WITH
VICE MINISTER URSO
UNCLASSIFIED


PAGE 02 ROME 03954 121532Z


1. (U) THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH VICE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
TRADE URSO ON AUGUST 8. AFTER DISCUSSION OF THE CONTAINER
SECURITY INITIATIVE (SEPTEL),THE TWO DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF
SEVERAL KEY TRADE ISSUES.


2. (U) FAST TRACK: URSO WAS PLEASED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE
FAST TRACK LEGISLATION IN THE U.S., CALLING IT "VERY GOOD
NEWS." HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY
WOULD FACILITATE WTO NEGOTIATIONS.


3. (SBU) FSC: URSO HOPED THAT MODIFICATIONS OF U.S. FSC
LEGISLATION COULD BE FINISHED SOON. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT
PRESSURE WAS BUILDING FOR A DECISION ON RETALIATION. THE
AMBASSADOR RECALLED THAT THE U.S. HAD CHANGED OUR LEGISLATION
ONCE ALREADY, IN ORDER TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF OUR TRADING
PARTNERS. WE HAD LOST THE WTO CASE AND WOULD COMPLY WITH THE
WTO RULING.


4. (SBU) STEEL: URSO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE HAD WRITTEN
TO COMMISSIONER LAMY TO EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT NO
ITALIAN STEEL EXEMPTIONS HAVE YET BEEN GRANTED BY THE U.S.,
AND DECLARED THAT "THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR US.8 HE
NOTED THAT OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE RECEIVED STEEL
EXEMPTIONS. THE AMBASSADOR ASKED URSO TO SEND A LIST OF
ITALIAN STEEL EXEMPTION REQUESTS, SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE
THAT USTR HAS THIS INFORMATION.


5. (SBU) GMOS: URSO DECLARED THAT, IN HIS VIEW, SO LONG AS
GMOS WERE LABELED, AND THERE WERE TRACEABILITY STANDARDS,
THERE WAS NO REASON TO KEEP GMOS OUT. THE AMBASSADOR
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 03954 121532Z
RESPONDED THAT AGRICULTURE MINISTER ALEMANNO HAD A VERY
DIFFERENT POLICY. HE HAD DECLARED A ZERO THRESHOLD FOR GMOS.
ALEMANNO POINTS TO PUBLIC OPINION POLLS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
THE MAJORITY OF ITALIANS FAVOR HIS ANTI-GMO POLICY. URSO
NOTED THAT HE AND MINISTER ALEMANNO WERE OF THE SAME PARTY,
AND HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 30 YEARS. HOWEVER, HE
EMPHASIZED, THEY DISAGREED ON THIS ISSUE. &IF I WERE THE
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, I WOULD END AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES
AND OPEN OUR BORDERS TO ALL AGRICULTURE IMPORTS, PARTICULARLY
FROM THE THIRD WORLD. THIS WOULD ALLOW DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
TO GROW ECONOMICALLY AND AFFORD OUR NON-AGRICULTURAL
EXPORTS.8 URSO NOTED THAT HE WAS WRITING A BOOK ABOUT HIS
TRADE VIEWS, WHICH WOULD BE PUBLISHED LATER IN THE YEAR.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: VICE MINISTER URSO IS A SENIOR OFFICIAL
OF THE AN, CLOSE TO DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FINI. AGRICULTURE
MINISTER ALEMANNO, ALSO OF AN, COMES FROM THE RIVAL WING OF
THE PARTY AND IS A PROTEGE OF LAZIO PROVINCE GOVERNOR
STORACE.
SEMBLER

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME03954 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED