UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHES ON CUSTOMS CLASSIFICATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002364 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/MST FOR SMEHRA STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN USTREAS PASS USCS FOR RCHOVANEC AMEMBASSY TUNIS - HOLD FSI FOR OLIVER JOHN USDOC FOR USPTO USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU GENEVA PASS USTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/08 TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL KIPR TC SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHES ON CUSTOMS CLASSIFICATION OF FANTA BEVERAGE AND SAUCES REFS: A) STATE 111059 B) STATE 111099 ¶1. (U) Classified by Acting DCM Thomas Williams for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶2. (C) Econoff delivered ref demarches 5/17 to Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology Deputy Director General Dr. Rashid bin Farhad regarding the U.S. position on the classification of Fanta beverage and certain sauces under the Harmonized System. Dr. Rashid undertook to pass the backgrounders to his superiors, but said that -- due to the small volume of Fanta beverage and certain sauces imported into the UAE -- the reclassification of such products would have a minimal impact on local trade. We will pass to Washington agencies any further communication we receive from the UAEG regarding this matter. Albright